Lionel Richie performs at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI for the Hello Tour. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)

As an 80’s baby, I have my own copy of Lionel Richie's Dancing on the Ceiling. I can recall fondly his hosting of the American Music Awards where the entire night was, “outrageous”, and one of the very first concerts I covered was Tina Turner’s Twenty Four Seven Tour, that featured Richie. So, to see him again with the perfect sunset in the back ground of DTE Energy Music Theatre (still Pine Knob to me as said 80’s baby), well how else do you kick off your summer?!?

In one word, Lionel Richie’s Hello Tour is FUN! The energy and crowd can be nothing less, with every one up out of their seats dancing, singing along, and cruising down memory lane via song, the night just keeps getting better and better.

Richie started with “Running With the Night” sporting an updated satin styled band jacket, and the hits kept coming; along with great crowd interaction and witty banter! At one point Richie sipped on the “local juice” and joked with the men in the audience that their wives or girlfriends may have dragged them to the show, but he told them, “I’ll warm them up for you and you can take them home and close the deal.”

People were out of their seats for the majority of the 90 minute set, with the crowd full of a broad range of ages swaying to some of the slower hits like, “Penny Lover”, “Three Times a Lady”, and the perfect song for a Sunday night concert, “Easy”.

The Commodores fans in the crowd were also treated to a medley of jams including my all-time favorite and ringtone “Brick House”!

The jams continued with “Hello”, Say You, Say Me”, “We Are the World”, and a forever party starter, “All Night Long”.

Richie, who recently turned 70 years old mentioned that there were kids in the audience who had brought their moms or grandmothers (Me included), just showing the depth of his popularity, longevity, timelessness, and importance in the music industry. With a career that began with The Commodores, formed in 1968 and a solo career launched in 1982; with over 90 million records sold, four Grammy Awards, and a Golden Globe, we saw first hand on Sunday night why he is one of the best to ever do it. And, why he has all the hits.

You can keep up to date on all things Lionel Richie, including upcoming tour dates here.

Lionel Richie performs and interacts with the audience at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI for the Hello Tour. (Marissa Pierce/Phashion Phish)