Richard Marx
from WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.
Richard Marx is a sensational pop crooner and a singer-songwriter, a man with an inborn talent. No one knew that the kid who started singing for commercial jingles at a young age would become a very successful solo artist someday.
Contents |
About
From Winnetka, Illinois, Richard Noel Marx was born on the 16th day of September 1963 to parents Dick and Ruth Marx. His parents were a part of the entertainment industry. His father composes jingles for commercial while his mother sang commercial jingles. When he was five years old, he started singing in commercials with the help of his parents. As years passed, he figured out that he need to grow as a musician from singing jingles to a solo artist. By the age of 17, he was then given a chance to bring out his voice to everyone when he made a demo song which landed in the hands of another famous artist Lionel Richie where Marx ended up singing back up on Lionel Richie's album, particularly on Richie's hits You Are and All Night Long.
His career blossomed from there, doing back up vocals for artists like Whitney Houston, [Madonna]] (for the True Blue album), and Kenny Rogers. He eventualy became a songwriter and later composed a song for country pop singer-composer, Kenny Rogers, What About Me and Crazy that reached the top spot on the country charts. By the time he released his eponymous debut album on June 1987, it gathered much appreciation from the listeners. It yielded hits singles such as Should've Known Better, Don't Mean Nothing, Hold On to the Nights and Endless Summer Nights, all topping the US charts. The following year, he was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performace.
His second album Repeat Offender released on May 1989 sold even much better than his previous effort. The first two singles off the album, Satisfied and Right Here Waiting for You added to the string of number one hits and receiving another nomination from the Grammys the same year and same category for the song Right Here Waiting. Also, on that same year, Marx got married to another artist Cynthia Rhodes who's famously know for the role she played in the blockbuster movie, Dirty Dancing. They have three sons namely Jesse, Brandon and Lucas.
The rise of the 90's Rap/Hip-hop genre gave a little rest for this sensational performer but he never let it step him out of the music industry. Marx continued releasing albums such as Rush Street on 1991, Paid Vacation on 1994, Flesh and Bone on 1997, Days in Avalon in 2000 and My Own Best Enemy in 2004, patronized by his devoted supporters. He also released a Greatest Hits album on November 1997 which is a compilation of his hit singles from his 5 albums and an additional tracks Slipping Away and Thanks To You', a tribute to his mother, Ruth Marx.
Until now Richard Marx is still active and everyday he emerged himself into fresh look and style of music for the satisfaction of his listeners. In 2006 he re-released his album Days In Avalon under Jive Records.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Awards | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Grammy Award | Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special for St. Elmo's Fire (1985) shared with David Foster; John Anderson; Billy Squier | Nominated |
| 1988 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Rock Vocal Performace | Nominated |
| 1989 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Rock Vocal Performace | Nominated |
| 1990 | American Music Award | Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | Nominated |
| 1990 | ASCAP Award | Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures for "Surrender to Me" shared with Ross Vannelli | WOn |
| 2003 | Grammy Awards | General Song of the Year Dance With My Father shared with Luther Vandross | Won |
| 2004 | Grammy Award | Best R&B Song for Dance With My Father shared with Luther Vandross | Nominated |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Billboard Hot 100 | Mainstream Rock Track | A/C | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Should've Known | 3 | 7 | 20 | Richard Marx |
| 1987 | Have Mercy | ~ | 7 | ~ | Richard Marx |
| 1987 | Don't Mean Nothing | 3 | 1 | ~ | Richard Marx |
| 1988 | Hold On to the Nights | 1 | ~ | 3 | Richard Marx |
| 1988 | Endless Summer Nights | 2 | ~ | 2 | Richard Marx |
| 1989 | Satisfied | 1 | 5 | ~ | Repeat Offender |
| 1989 | Right Here Waiting | 1 | ~ | 1 | Repeat Offender |
| 1989 | Nothing You Can Do | ~ | 12 | ~ | Repeat Offender |
| 1989 | Angelia | 4 | ~ | 2 | Repeat Offender |
| 1990 | Too Late to Say Goodbye | 12 | 17 | ~ | Repeat Offender |
| 1990 | Children of the Night | 13 | ~ | 6 | Repeat Offender |
| 1991 | Keep Coming Back | 12 | 71 | 1 | Rush Street |
| 1992 | Take This Heart | 20 | ~ | 4 | Rush Street |
| 1992 | Hazard | 9 | ~ | 1 | Rush Street |
| 1992 | Chains Around My Heart | 44 | ~ | 9 | Rush Street |
| 1994 | The Way She Loves Me | 20 | ~ | 3 | Rush Street |
| 1994 | Now and Forever | 7 | ~ | 1 | Rush Street |
| 1995 | Nothing Left Behind | ~ | ~ | 11 | Rush Street |
| 1997 | Until I Find You | 42 | ~ | 3 | Flesh and Bone |
| 1997 | At The Beginning | 45 | ~ | 2 | Flesh and Bone |
| 2000 | Days In Avalon | ~ | ~ | 25 | Days In Avalon |
Tours & Concerts
No tours do date
Discography
Albums
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Singles
| Date | Title | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Should've Known | Capitol/EMI Records | Richard Marx |
| 1987 | Have Mercy | Capitol/EMI Records | Richard Marx |
| 1987 | Don't Mean Nothing | Capitol/EMI Records | Richard Marx |
| 1988 | Hold On to the Nights | Capitol/EMI Records | Richard Marx |
| 1988 | Endless Summer Nights | Capitol/EMI Records | Richard Marx |
| 1989 | Satisfied | EMI (America) | Repeat Offender |
| 1989 | Right Here Waiting | EMI (America) | Repeat Offender |
| 1989 | Nothing You Can Do | EMI (America) | Repeat Offender |
| 1989 | Angelia | EMI (America) | Repeat Offender |
| 1990 | Too Late to Say Goodbye | EMI (America) | Repeat Offender |
| 1990 | Children of the Night | EMI (America) | Repeat Offender |
| 1991 | Keep Coming Back | Capitol/EMI Records | Rush Street |
| 1992 | Take This Heart | Capitol/EMI Records | Rush Street |
| 1992 | Hazard | Capitol/EMI Records | Rush Street |
| 1992 | Chains Around my Heart | Capitol/EMI Records | Rush Street |
| 1994 | The Way she Loves Me | Capitol/EMI Records | Rush Street |
| 1994 | Now and Forever | Capitol/EMI Records | Rush Street |
| 1995 | Nothing Left Behind | Capitol/EMI Records | Rush Street |
| 1997 | Until I Find You | EMI-Capitol Special Market | Flesh and Bone |
| 1997 | At The Beginning | EMI-Capitol Special Market | Flesh and Bone |
| 2000 | Days In Avalon | Signal 21 | Days In Avalon |
Compilations & Live Releases
 |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- He has his own record label since his split with Capitol called Signal 21 records. His first album from his own label was Days In Avalon.
- Sang a duet with Donna Lewis for the Anastasia soundtrack. The duet was a top ten single and was featured during the credits of the movie
