The Commodores

The Commodores are an American funk and soul band that formed at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in the late 1960s and recorded for Motown Records in the 1970s. Their sound blends energetic funk grooves and tight horn arrangements with smooth, melodic ballads, featuring lead vocals that range from gritty to tender. The group included Lionel Richie before his solo career and is known for combining dance-oriented R&B with softer pop-soul material.