For decades, Richard Marx was synonymous with sweeping ballads that dominated radio, wedding playlists, and sing-alongs around the world. But as the hitmaker now admits, it took him years to fully appreciate just how rare and meaningful that kind of connection really was.
In a new interview with Chicago Magazine, the singer-songwriter reflected candidly on his career, his creative process, and the long journey toward embracing the songs that defined him for millions of fans. And when it comes to his reputation as a ballad king, Marx says his perspective has shifted dramatically.
“There was a time when it annoyed me,” he said of being typecast. “But in the last 10 years, I’ve been like, 'Who cares?' The fact that I have one song, if not multiple songs, that people in Australia and Malaysia and Singapore and India can sing along to, I should just be the most grateful guy and shut the f--k up.”
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That hard-earned gratitude comes after one of the most successful chart runs of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Between 1987 and 1994, Marx landed 14 Top 20 hits, including No. 1 singles like “Right Here Waiting,” “Satisfied,” “Endless Summer Nights,” “Hold On to the Nights,” and “Hazard.” He remains the only male artist in history to have his first seven singles reach the Top 5 on the Billboard charts.
Even now, Marx says the act of songwriting itself still feels mysterious, despite decades of experience.
“Whenever I finish a song, I still have that moment where I go, Holy s***, there was nothing, and now there’s this,” he said. “I understand the mechanics of it. I’ve learned it’s a craft. But I’m still completely mystified that it happens.”
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That fascination with creation started early. As a teenager growing up in Chicago, Marx caught a life-changing break when Lionel Richie personally reached out after hearing one of his demos, encouraging him to leave the Midwest and pursue music seriously. It was the nudge that helped launch a career that would eventually sell more than 30 million albums worldwide.
Music also ran deep in his family. Marx’s father, Dick Marx, was a celebrated composer and arranger in Chicago, and his influence looms large in his son’s story. Before his death in a car accident when Richard was just 33, Dick collaborated with him on several major moments, including conducting orchestral arrangements behind his son on national television and writing the string arrangements for “Now and Forever.”
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While Marx has made peace with his past hits, he’s equally committed to not becoming a nostalgia act frozen in time.
“I never want to feel like the old guy who doesn’t write songs,” he said. “If somebody says, ‘Are you working on anything new?’ I’m embarrassed if the answer is no.”
The urgency may be different now, but the curiosity isn’t gone. And after decades of global hits, sold-out tours, and songs that still resonate across generations, Marx seems more at ease than ever with the legacy he once wrestled with—one ballad at a time.
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