Richard Marx He's a Chicago native who grew up listening to some of the windy city's finest blues groups and they definitely left an impression upon him. Richard Marx is not only one, red hot concert performer, but can play a variety of instruments and composes and produces his own music as well. Marx was the first solo artist in rock history to reach the Top 5 with each of his first seven singles.
Richard Marx burst onto the music scene in 1987 with his first self titled album, RICHARD MARX yielding more than one hit. First there was "Don't Mean Nothin'" which charted at #3 and that was followed by "Should've Known Better" , "Endless Summer Nights" and "Hold On To The Nights", the latter boosted to the top by a terrific music video that was in constant rotation on MTV. Kurt Kelly hosted the live world wide telecast concert film of "Hold On To The Nights" which aired live from the Palace in Hollywood, Ca. and is now in video release. Kelly was working at KLOS-FM (ABC Owned and Operated Radio in Los Angeles), when Marx with his Manager Allen Kovac walked in to the air studio with a record that "Joe Walsh" of The Eagles asked Kurt to listen to as a favor. When Kurt her the demo vinyl that had no label, he was on the air and knew it was a smash giving it on the spot airplay. "It sounded like an Eagles record" according to Kelly. Could it be "Hell Freezes Over?", at the time that is what Walsh and other Eagles members had proclaimed was when the next Eagles record would be released. Richard Marx first single "Don't Mean Nothing" featured Eagles Members: Joe Walsh, Randy Meisner, Timothy B.
By the time the eighties were winding down Richard Marx was on the charts again with singles from his second album REPEAT OFFENDER. He went on tour in Europe with Tina Turner, playing to packed houses in England and Germany in support of his hits, "Angelia", "Satisfied" and "Right Here Waiting", the latter two which reached #1 status. One song off the album called "Children Of The Night" was written about an L.A. charity for runaway teens. By 1991, Richard Marx was up for something different to celebrate the release of RUSH STREET. That "something different" turned out to be a marathon five city tour in less than 24 hours.
It was exhausting but fun! Marx rented an MGM Grand and flew to New York, Baltimore/DC, Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles and performed at or near the airports for his fans. For all that energy, the mayors in all five cities proclaimed it "Richard Marx Day"!
Richard Marx's last release was PAID VACATION on Capitol last year and he's got a new album set to be released either in the late spring or early summer this year. Last year Richard moved his family from their long-time home in Los Angeles, back to his hometown of Chicago. He and his lovely wife, the talented actress and singer, Cynthia Rhodes, are busy raising their three sons.
Watch for Richard to appear on a segment of "Politically Incorrect" in March on cable TV's "Comedy Central" channel.
For more information on Richard Marx just check out Backstage Pass All Access and we'll fill you in!
Compiled by: Nancy Plum and Kurt Kelly
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