Richard Marx One of modern music's most prolific artists, Richard Marx has the distinction of being the first solo artist in rock history to reach the Top 5 with each of his first seven singles. His widely-appealing first two albums have thus far sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, and on stage, time and time again, the talented vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer has earned a warranted reputation as a passionate concert performer having circled the globe repeatedly for sold-out tours. This tremendous success has set the stage for Marx's latest, boldest, most-creative work, Rush Street. It's the most accurate portrait of his musical variance yet, bridging the rock spirit of his debut disc (featuring his first hit single "Don't Mean Nothin'") with earnest R&B leanings (as on Marx's new single "Keep Coming Back" which became the #1 most-added record in the country in October, when it earned 170 radio-adds, the highest number of first week adds in the history of Capitol Records). Not bad for a twentysomething music fan who, as an underaged Chicago youth, would longingly peer into the doorways of Rush Street's prominent blues clubs, relishing every note he heard. Then and there, Richard Marx discovered his calling.
Having accomplished so much on his own in only four years as a recording artist, the internationally-acclaimed performer has newly-discovered the treasures of home. In the Fall of 1991, Chicago-born Marx completed his inspired new album, Rush Street, a nod to the rich musical upbringing gained in his hometown. "Rush Street definitely has traces of the rhythm and blues artist I listened to while growing up in Chicago," Marx reminisces. "I loved artists like Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and Otis Redding, as well as so many forgotten blues, jazz and rock 'n' roll players who poured their heart and soul into their music." So it's only natural that, on the groove-oriented Rush Street, Marx explores such diverse avenues as funk-rock ("Love Unemotional" featuring Luther Vandross), progressive country ("Hazard"), hard rock ("Streets of Pain" with backbeat supplied by Motley Crue's Tommy Lee), out-and-out rock 'n' roll ("I Get No Sleep" with Billy Joel on piano), and R&B (the album's bold first single, "Keep Coming Back" on which Marx's rough voice merges with Vandross'). Through and through, Rush Street's musicianship is exceptional thanks to such ace players as guitarists Steve Lukather, Bruce Gaitsch and Michael Landau, drummers Terry Bozzio, Jeff Porcaro and Mike Baird, bassists Randy Jackson, Marcus Miller and Nathan East and vocalist/song collaborator Fee Waybill.
Rush Street's rugged edge and opulent diversity naturally shows off Marx's influences and versatility while reflecting his tremendous progression as a composer, performer and producer. "Although my voice is the common link, nothing on this album sounds a lot like my other records, and that's what I love most about it," Richard says. "I don't care about formats. I don't want to play it safe. What I want is to continually meet challenges and, perhaps, set the pace."
Marx set more than a few records with his triple-platinum 1987 Manhattan Records debut, Richard Marx - like being the first new artist ever played on 117 radio stations nationwide during his initial week on the charts. A resident of L.A. since he was 18, Marx's autobiographical debut single, "Don't Mean Nothin'" (July 11,'87) rose to #3, and his second, "Should've Known Better," featuring Fee Waybill of the Tubes and Timothy B. Schmit, duplicated the feat soon thereafter (October 17, '87). Marx shared his good fortune by donating royalties from "Should've Known Better" to New York University's Pediatric Surgery division in tribute to teen cancer patient Gabriele De Martino, a devoted Marx fan.
For Marx, things only got better. Richard Marx produced two additional smash hits; "Endless Summer Nights" (January 30, '88) reached #2 and "Hold On To The Nights" (June 11, '88) became Marx's first solid chart-topper. With four hit singles already to his credit, Marx embarked on his first 14-month world tour and quickly became a headlining concert artist acclaimed for his passionate performances.
No hit-and-run multi-platinum artist, Marx duplicated his initial success with Repeat Offender (released May, 1989) which has sold a staggering six million copies worldwide. With this sophomore album, Marx graduated to superstar status by dominating the charts with a trio of hit singles: "Angelia," "Satisfied" and "Right Here Waiting," the latter two of which reached #1. In addition to embarking on his second world tour in the spring of 1989, Marx celebrated by accepting Tina Turner's invitation to tour Germany, as well as one to perform at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall. The Repeat Offender track "Children of the Night," it should be noted, was written in support of the namesake L.A.-based charity for runaways. Marx's sensitivity to humanitarian causes has continued with a benefit performance on behalf of the Scott Newman foundation, an anti-drug organization founded by Paul Newman in memory of his son.
On November 9, 1991, Marx celebrated the release of Rush Street with the incredible, one-day marathon "Rush-In, Rush-Out, Rush Street Tour." Marx charted an MGM Grand and flew to five U.S. cities, performed five free concerts at or near airports in New York, Baltimore/Washington D.C., Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles...all in less than 24 hours. "This tour was my Super Bowl," Marx exclaimed. "The fact that my fans reacted so strongly to the new songs from Rush Street really kept me pumped up throughout the day." The mayors of all five cities unanimously decided to "make Richard's day" by proclaiming Marx's whirlwind Saturday "Richard Marx Day."
Since his rise, Marx has been the recipient of numerous awards including two Grammy nominations for "Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male" (1988 and 1989), Rolling Stone's "Best New Male Singer" (1987) and Performance Magazine's "Best New Artist" (1988). In 1989 Marx was nominated as "Video Artist of the Year" by the TV program "Night Tracks" and was named the #1 multi-format artist for airplay on AOR, CHR and AC radio by the trade weekly Monday Morning Replay. In January, 1990, Marx appeared on The American Music Awards and received a nomination as "Favorite Male Singer."
Marx has also shared his talents on outside projects, penning the Top 10 hit "Surrender To Me," recorded by Heart's Ann Wilson and Cheap Trick's Robin Zander for the movie "Tequila Sunrise." He also wrote and produced Vixen's single debut, "Edge Of A Broken Heart," and composed/produced "Nothing To Hide" for Poco. Perhaps his most important collaboration thus far, however, was the September 11, 1990 birth of Brandon Caleb, Richard and Cynthia Marx's first child. The new song "Your World," Richard explains, "reflects how the troubles of the world have become so much more personal now that I have a son. He's changed my perspective on life."
That song is just one of many giving glimpses of Richard Marx's view from Rush Street, a confident, multifaceted album bearing his most personal imprint yet. "There are a zillion things people will learn about me just by hearing this record through once," Richard says happily. "It was created from an honest and natural place, and although I can't predict how it'll be received, I've made an album that's already a success with me."
Compiled by Steve Flanagan
Backstage Pass All Access TM © KKEI 1996 All Rights Reserved