From singing and dancing to comedy and drama, Lionel Richie gave the audience all the joy his heart and soul could give Tuesday night at UD Arena.



This concert tour marks Richie's debut as a solo performing artist. After being with the Commodores, Richie is now on his own. Richie told the crowd of approximately 7,000, "I spent 15 beautiful years with a dynamic band - the Commodores."



He said the Commodores have come to Dayton so many times that Dayton seems like home to him.



"I've got to refer to this as my home," he said.



With silver staging, including a silver piano that could be tilted and turned automatically, Richie strolled onto stage in a glittery-striped shirt and blue silk pants as he opened with the Grammy award winner, "Truly." After he finished the opening number, the seven-member band joined Richie on stage.



Upon completion of "Easy," the fourth concert song, Richie received roses from a young lady in the audience.



He then kissed her and said, "I love you, Dayton."



Richie told the audience that he had a certain song that he had to get out of his system before he could really be in Dayton. He sang the Commodores' gold single, "Brick House."



Richie also mentioned Michael Jackson's name. The crowd erupted with excitement. He told the audience that he thought the "boy had come in." Ironically enough the Commodores' first tour was with the Jackson Five in 1971.



Richie started to dance as his band began to play Jackson's hit single "Billie Jean." The audience appeared to think Richie was going to sing this song, but he did not.



Richie did sing "Lady," a song he wrote for Kenny Rogers. Before singing this song, Richie made a point of telling the audience that he had never before sung "Lady" in concert.



He said that he told Rogers, "'One day, Kenny, I'm going to walk out on stage and sing that song.'" Richie then told the audience he was going to sing "our song."



According to Richie, every song writer has a song that they feel cannot be topped. Richie's song is the gospel song, "Jesus is Love."



To help him with this song, the Pointer Sisters came out. They helped with two other songs - "Taking it to the Streets," originally by the Doobie Brothers, and the Commodores 1978 hit, "Three Times a Lady."



The Pointer Sisters were the opening act for Richie.



The concert ended with the Caribbean tune "All Night Long." It was an appropriate end because Richie stressed throughout the concert that he wanted to play all night long and would play until he and the band were tired.