Hello, is it buttery vocals, hip-swaying feels and heart-tugging sentiments you're looking for? Richie's buoyant dance hits sashay in the footsteps of Marvin Gaye's slinky funk and Stevie Wonder's finger-snapping joie de vivre. Shifting down, his romantic ballads take cues from Elton John and James Taylor, artists who hit deeply personal notes while uncovering universal themes of love and life.