| 1968 | Founded at Tuskegee Institute by a group of classmates who would go on to sell over 75 million records worldwide. |
| 1972 | Signed with Motown after catching the label's attention as opening act for the Jackson 5 on tour. |
| 1974 | "Machine Gun," the instrumental title track from their debut album, peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a permanent fixture at American sporting events, later appearing in the films "Boogie Nights" and "Looking for Mr. Goodbar." |
| 1977 | "Brick House" and "Easy" became global smash hits, cementing the band's dual identity as both funky dancefloor architects and masters of the slow ballad. |
| 1978 | "Three Times a Lady," written by Lionel Richie, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and spent five weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. |
| 1985 | Won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Nightshift," recorded after Lionel Richie's departure and standing as proof the band's creative engine ran deeper than any single member. |
| 2003 | Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, honoring a catalog that spans funky dancefloor anthems and some of Motown's best-loved ballads. |
| 2022 | Original members William King and Walter Orange led the band on a North American touring run, drawing multi-generational crowds to setlists anchored by "Brick House," "Easy," and "Nightshift." |
| 2024 | Continued global touring with founding members William King and Walter Orange alongside longtime collaborators, keeping the classic Commodores catalog alive on stages across the United States and internationally. |
| 2025 | Performed at arenas, theaters, and festivals worldwide with a lineup anchored by original members William King and Walter Orange, more than five decades after forming on the Tuskegee campus. |
