Alberta R. Richie was the mother of Lionel Richie, an American singer, record producer, and television personality. Lionel Richie is an American superstar who has been in the entertainment industry since the 1970s. He came into the spotlight as part of the music group Commodores, which was one of the best bands in the 1970s and 1980s.
Besides being known as the mother of the American superstar, Alberta R. Richie had also made an impact on society on her own. She was a teacher and school principal.
Early Life and Education
Alberta R. Richie was born on January 27, 1917, in Tuskegee, Alabama, to Albert Davidson Foster and Adelaide Mary Brown Foster. Her mother was a pianist, and her son probably learned a thing or two from Adelaide, who died aged 103. Alberta was not the only child; she had a sister named Volenderver Dixson.
Regarding her educational background, Alberta R. Richie studied up to the college level. However, there is no information to indicate which institutions she attended. After completing her education, Alberta began working as a teacher, and her rank kept growing; by the time she was retiring, she was a school principal.
Her Son
Richie grew up at Tuskegee Institute and began his education in a school nearby. After early education, he proceeded to Joliet Township High School. While in high school, Alberta’s son engaged in various co-curricular activities. He was part of the tennis team, and this helped him gain a scholarship to the Tuskegee Institute.
In college, Richie studied economics, minoring in accounting. At one point, Lionel Richie wanted to become a priest. However, after reassessing himself, he realized that he was not “priest material.” Following this, Alberta’s son decided to venture into music despite not knowing anything about music.
Lionel formed several bands, and by the late 1960s, he was the saxophonist and singer of the band Commodores. The band signed with Atlantic Records, but it later moved to Motown Records.
While working with Motown Records, Commodores achieved a lot of success, and Alberta’s son was the lead singer. They were able to produce several songs that did well, including Three Times a Lady, Still, Easy and Sail.
After leaving the Commodores in the early 1980s, Lionel Richie embarked on a solo music career. He released his first album, Lionel Richie, and it did well. After that, he went on to produce and release various songs and albums. He is considered one of the best musicians in American music history. In his later life, Richie has mainly focused on making a difference in society by contributing to charity causes.
Death
Alberta R. Richie died in January 2001, two weeks before her 84 birthday. Her family did not reveal the cause of her death, but she was probably battling a disease, and old age caught up with her. Her burial was attended by various top artists, including her son Lionel Richie. Most of his friends came as they comforted Richie as he bid his mother goodbye. Alberta’s body was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Tuskegee, Alabama.
