Funk & Soul Group; Grammy Award Winners; Known for "Brick House," "Easy" & "Nightshift"; Motown Recording Artists

Live Event: $50,000 - $100,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

The Commodores Biography

The Commodores are a funk and soul group that originated at Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, in Alabama. The group formed when members from campus bands The Mystics and The Jays joined forces. After early personnel changes, the lineup included Lionel Richie as saxophonist, vocalist, and keyboardist; guitarist Thomas McClary; vocalist and drummer Walter Orange; bass and trumpet player Ronald LaPread; Milan Williams on keyboards, drums, and guitar; and William King on trumpet. The group's name was selected when King reportedly chose the word "Commodores" from a dictionary.

The Commodores gained national attention after serving as the opening act for the Jackson Five's tour, which led to a recording contract with Motown. The group initially played local gigs in Alabama before their audition for the tour. After signing with Motown, the Commodores sold more than 60 million records. Their breakthrough came with the release of their first album, "Machine Gun," which sold over 500,000 copies and earned gold status. Subsequent albums such as "Caught in the Act," "Movin' On," and "Hot on the Tracks" highlighted their funk style, with "Hot on the Tracks" reaching number one on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.

The Commodores' most commercially successful era occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with Lionel Richie as co-lead singer. The group is known for ballads like "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady," as well as dance-floor hits including "Brick House," "The Bump," "Fancy Dancer," and "Too Hot ta Trot." The band achieved two number-one singles on the Billboard charts with "Three Times a Lady" and "Still," and topped the US R&B singles chart seven times. Three consecutive albums reached the Top 3 of the Billboard pop charts, a notable achievement for a Motown act. The Commodores appeared in the film "Thank God It's Friday," performing "Too Hot ta Trot," with "Brick House" and "Easy" also featured in the movie.

Following Lionel Richie's departure, the group continued with new singer J.D. Nicholas. The Commodores recorded "Nightshift," a tribute to Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, and other soul artists, which spent four weeks at the top of the charts and earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance. "Nightshift" marked a new chapter for the group.

The Commodores have been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The group has received nine Grammy Award nominations and has won one, with global record sales exceeding 70 million. In the 1990s, the lineup became a trio of Orange, King, and Nicholas, who established Commodore Records and continued to record and perform classic and contemporary R&B and funk music for audiences worldwide. The Commodores have influenced artists across genres with their enduring songs and contributions to Motown, R&B, and funk music.

BOOK The Commodores

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/29/2026.

  • How do I book The Commodores to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like The Commodores for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for The Commodores, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for The Commodores or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for The Commodores

    Speaking fees for The Commodores, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book The Commodores are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire The Commodores, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does The Commodores speak about?

    The Commodores is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Celebrity, Entertainment, Music
  • Where does The Commodores travel from?

    The Commodores generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is The Commodores’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like The Commodores for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book The Commodores for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host The Commodores or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

The Commodores is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book The Commodores for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. The Commodores generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Neon Trees, Todrick Hall, The Wallflowers, Smash Mouth and AJ McLean. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling The Commodores for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP