SAN FRANCISCO — Grammy-winning artist Lionel Richie brought his Sing A Song All Night Long tour to Chase Center on Friday, headlining a bill that also included Earth, Wind & Fire.

Richie kicked off with the classic “Hello,” from 1983’s Can’t Slow Down. Making a dramatic entrance, he rose to the stage on a lift at the end of the catwalk with a mic in hand, focusing his energy and charisma on the crowd. He continued on with “Running with the Night,” from the same album.

“My people, Dub nation!” he announced.

Up next was the Commodores’ “Easy,” from the group’s 1977 self-titled album. A camera situated on his grand piano allowed everyone to see his deft playing. Richie encouraged the audience to sing the bridge with him, joining his sax player on the catwalk for a comedic exchange.

“I want you to play. Blow the crowd away!” Richie told him, leading to a solo showcase.

He then returned to center stage to belt out power ballad “Truly,” from his 1982 solo debut album. While introducing “Stuck On You,” from 1983’s Can’t Slow Down, Lionel Richie comfortably ribbed the men in the audience.

“My job is to warm ‘em up, your job is to take ‘em home!” he said.

He referred to the song as being fellow “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan’s favorite of his.

At the piano for the Commodores’ “Sail On,” from 1979’s Midnight Magic, Richie’s voice gained steam, warming up to the smooth and rich tenor tone for which he’s best known.

He briefly left the stage to change his jacket and came back out for 1986’s “Dancing on the Ceiling,” which added a Latin beat at the bridge. The high-energy track brought fans to their feet to dance to an extended version that included a snippet of Van Halen’s “Jump.”

Richie returned to the piano to kick off a medley of Commodores hits, starting with “Three Times a Lady,” from 1978 album Natural High. Funky groove tune “Fancy Dancer” followed with lots of bass, synths and in-the-pocket drumming. The band rolled on to the mid-tempo melody of “Sweet Love,” from 1975’s Movin’ On, before rounding to with the full version of “Lady,” extending it with a funky breakdown.

After “Just to Be Close to You,” from 1976’s Hot on the Tracks, he explained how the Bay Area helped make “Zoom” a hit.

“‘Zoom’ was no. 1 for seven weeks in the Bay Area. That made my career!” he shouted.

The crowd sang along to Diana Ross’ part in duet “Endless Love”—Richie first teased fans that she was in the building and then asked women to sing her lines—and then cheered loudly to the bass line of the Commodores’ funk classic, “Brick House.” The arrangement wove a piece of the Ohio Players’ “Skin Tight” into the bridge, then immediately rolled into “Fire.” The chorus was punctuated by pyrotechnics before the “Brick House” melody powerfully returned.

A piano appeared on stage from beneath the catwalk for “Still,” from 1979’s Midnight Magic, then lifted higher, elevating Lionel Richie above the stage floor for “Say You, Say Me.” An emotional performance of “We Are the World” capped the set before Richie took a quick break and returned for an encore of “All Night Long.”

Earth, Wind & Fire opened the show with their own hourlong set. Verdine White, Ralph Johnson and Philip Bailey, were joined by a crew of talented vocalists and musicians. The ensemble included two drummers an a horn section with sax, trombone and trumpet. One of the backup singers was Bailey’s son.

With scrapbook photos flashing behind it, the band focused equally on ballads and uptempo grooves. The set hit all the highlights, including “Reasons,” from 1975 album That’s the Way of the World, “After the Love Has Gone,” from 1979’s I Am, and “September” (the reason for the season!), “Boogie Wonderland” and “Sing a Song,” from 1975’s Gratitude.

Earth, Wind & Fire showed incredible flexibility and vocal dexterity, taking turns on higher and lower register parts, at times even trading within the same song. The horns added touch of nostalgia to “Got to Get You Into My Life” and “Let’s Groove.” Philip Bailey brought fans to their feet with his otherworldly operatic high notes, which he hit with ease on “Reasons” and “Fantasy,” from 1977’s All ‘n All.

Follow Mel Bowman at Twitter.com/melmichel and Instagram.com/coco_michel_coco. Follow photographer Derek Fisher at Instagram.com/dfishswish.