Bio
Richard´s vocal career started at the age of 5. Already at this young age he was singing commercials for Nestle.
At 17 LIONEL RICHIE got hold of a demo tape by Richard. Lionel tried to persuade him to come to LA for recording. Lionel Richie was just producing his first Solo-CD and had quite a hard time recording the backing vocals. So Richard ended up singing on tracks like ´All night long´ and ´Running with the night´.
Subsequently Richard spent a lot of time in the studio. He was working as a background singer for WHITNEY HOUSTON and MADONNA. At the same time he also wrote hits for KENNY LOGGINS and KIM CARNES.
Simultaneously he tried to get his own record deal. Nearly every label in LA received his demotape, but it was the former boss of EMI/Manhattan, Bruce Lundvall, who was most enthusiastic about Richard´s music. So quite logical Lundvall offered him a record deal, which secured Richard artistic and musical freedom in every direction. Then Richard contacted his friend FEE WAYBILL from ´THE TUBES´ and some other highly gifted musicians like TOMOTHY B SCHMIDT and RANDY MESINER (´THE EAGLES´). They recorded 10 tracks for an album that became the starting point for Richard´s career.
The debut album became an immediate success. 3 million copies were sold and it reached #3 in the charts. The singles ´Don´t mean nothing´, ´Should´ve known better´, ´Endless summer nights´ and ´Hold on to the nights´ became hits, too. ´Hold on to the nights´ even topped the charts and was Richard´s first #1.
In 1988 he received his first Grammy nomination for ´Don´t mean nothing´ in the category ´Best male Rock performance´.
The next album ´Repeat Offender´(May 1989) reached platinum status. I was no surprise that the singles ´Satisfied´, ´Right here waiting´ and ´Angelia´ became charttoppers too.
This success was followed by a world tour with concerts in Europe, Australia and Asia. One special highlight was the show at the famous Royal Albert Hall in London. This was only highlighted by another Grammy nomination for ´Right here waiting´ in the category ´Best male Pop performance.
In November 1991 album number 3, ´Rush Street´, hit the stores. Influences by country-, funk- and hardrock-music could be heard. LUTHER VANDROSS, STEVE LUKATHER, JEFF PORCARO and RANDY JACKSON were prominent guest musicians on this album.
Album #4, ´Paid Vacation´ was released in January 1994. Again, lots of famous guest stars were invited for the recordings and a great variety of musical styles was on offer. Without doubt the biggest hit was the ballad ´Now & Forever´, which was also on the soundtrack for ´The Getaway´.
Musically the fifth album ´Flesh & Bone´ was a logical successor. Rock and R&B elements were mixed like on ´Paid Vacation´ before. The single ´Until I find you again´ was popular in the charts.
In 1997 it was the right time for a Greatest Hits-album. Two different editions were released (World & Asia) with three new tracks, namely ´Angels Lullaby´, ´Slipping away´ and ´Thanks to you´(both Asia-versions). At this time the relationship with Capitol Records also came to an end. Richard wanted to establish his own label.
´Days in Avalon´ saw the light of day in 2000, although in the beginning it was quite difficult to get hold of a copy in Europe. This album had a much ´quieter quality´, but Richard´s typical trademarks could still be found.
In 2004 album #7, ´My own best enemy´ was released. Again every fan could hear Richard´s gift for writing great melodies. Best examples were ´Ready to fly´ and ´When you´re gone´ which both became singles.
Until today Richard Marx has made himself a household name not only as a singer and musician, but also as a songwriter, producer and studio-musician. To make a long list short he is one of most acclaimed musicians in the whole business today. His credit-list reads like an international ´Who´s who´: GEORGE BENSON, CHICAGO, WHITNEY HOUSTON, MADONNA, BILLY JOEL, MICHAEL BOLTON, RICK SPRINGFIELD, CHER, HEART, TOTO, BARBARA STREISAND, NSYNC, SARAH BRIGHTMAN, NATALIE COLE, KENNY ROGERS and BARRY MANILOW.
In 2004 he received another Grammy together with LUTHER VANDROSS for ´Dance with my father´ in the category ´Song of the year´.
Richard Marx…an exceptional musician and an exceptional career.
(Based on the original biography by Richard Marx com with personal influences from webmaster DJ Bonne, translation by Heiko "Duke Big Hase" Hasenbein)