At 68 years young, not only is the iconic Lionel Richie making 68 orbits around the sun look more like 38, he’s is accomplishing many new feats in his career. He’s still able to pack arenas everywhere he touches down to perform his solo and Commodore classics and in addition to his music, he’s new ventures are musically inspired.

If you’ve been sleep for about the past couple of weeks, then you probably missed that Richie is now the new judge on the rebooting of the upcoming American Idol singing competition show. But there’s another new venture that his die-hard 70’s soul fans would be excited to hear about.

Richie’s Newest Career Move With Curtis Mayfield’s Family

Lionel Richie has inked a new deal:

Via Deadline– Lionel Richie has been granted the rights to produce a feature based on the life of legendary songwriter and musician Curtis Mayfield. Richie, who acquired the rights from the Curtis Mayfield Estate, is mounting the project via his RichLion Productions.

Richie also spoke to Deadline about his excitement to be given this opportunity:

“It’s an honor for me to bring the life of one of my idols and friend to the screen. … I’m so grateful to be working closely with Altheida Mayfield, Cheaa Mayfield and the Curtis Mayfield Estate and couldn’t be happier to be moving forward on this amazing project about a one-of-a-kind music genius,” [said Richie].

Curtis Mayfield’s Widow Gives Richie The Stamp Of Approval

Mayfield’s widow, Altheida Mayfield, has been known to be very protective of her husband’s legacy. So when she spoke on her approval of Lionel Richie taking on her hubby’s life story, it said a lot:

“It’s time to celebrate and re-evaluate Curtis’ legacy,” added Altheida Mayfield, the singer’s widow. “For years, too many others have tried to claim what he alone did. He was a genius, always stood on his own.”

Even after becoming paralyzed in 1990 -due to stage lighting equipment falling on him while performing at a NY concert- Curtis Mayfield was still an incredible soul legend. Although he sadly passed away in 1997 from complications due to type II diabetes, he was still recording great music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXmetqhYDjo

He was a man with a message, in fact, many messages about social injustices as well as life in the ghetto. Songs like “Pusherman,” “People Get Ready,” “Freddie’s Dead,” “Superfly,” and more, his diverse understanding of the society in which he lived was very evident and much needed then and now. It’s gonna be interesting to see how Lionel Richie and his RichLion Productions tells the story of Curtis Mayfield. We’ll definitely be on the lookout for this one.