Richard Marx

Updated: March 23, 2026

Name: Richard Noel Marx
Date of Birth: September 16, 1963 (age 62)
Origin: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Gender: Male
Height (cm): 175
Nationality: American
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
Genres: Pop Rock, Adult Contemporary, Soft Rock, AOR

Biography & Career:
Richard Marx is an American singer-songwriter and producer whose career spans four decades of chart success, timeless ballads, and hit songwriting for some of the biggest names in pop music. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he grew up surrounded by music — his father Dick Marx was a jazz musician and jingle composer, and his mother Ruth was a singer. He began recording commercial jingles at just five years old, and by seventeen a demo tape found its way to Lionel Richie, who invited the young talent to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music.

Before launching a solo career, Richard Marx worked as a background vocalist for artists including Madonna, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, and Lionel Richie himself. In 1987, the self-titled debut album was released and went triple platinum, producing four hit singles: Don't Mean Nothing, Should've Known Better, Endless Summer Nights, and Hold On to the Nights. He became the only male artist in history to have his first seven singles reach the top 5 on the Billboard charts — a record that still stands today. Richard Marx music genre blends pop rock, adult contemporary, and soft rock, a sound that defined an entire era of radio.

The follow-up album Repeat Offender reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart and sold over five million copies in the United States alone. It featured the platinum-selling single Right Here Waiting, which became one of his most famous songs and one of the most recognizable love ballads of the era, topping charts worldwide. Other No. 1 hits include Satisfied, Hold On to the Nights, Endless Summer Nights, and Hazard — all of which remain staples of any greatest hits collection. Between 1987 and 1994, he scored 14 top 20 hits and four consecutive platinum albums: Richard Marx, Repeat Offender, Rush Street, and Paid Vacation. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and achieved 14 No. 1 singles as both a performer and songwriter, with his top songs continuing to resonate with audiences across generations.

As a songwriter and producer, he has crafted career-defining tracks for other artists, including This I Promise You by NSYNC, Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross — which won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2004 — and songs for Keith Urban, Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand, and many others. According to Billboard, he "holds the distinction of having written songs that have hit No. 1 on various Billboard charts in each of the last four decades", an achievement shared only with Michael Jackson. In 2025, he joined The Voice Australia as a coach alongside Melanie C, Ronan Keating, and Kate Miller-Heidke, and performed alongside Hugh Jackman at his sold-out Radio City residency. He continues to tour actively, and any concert by him remains a celebration of decades of unforgettable music.

Richard Marx family life has been closely followed by fans. His first wife was actress and singer Cynthia Rhodes, known for her roles in Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, and Staying Alive. They married on January 8, 1989, and had three sons: Brandon Caleb Marx, Lucas Conner Marx, and Jesse Taylor Marx. After 25 years of marriage, the couple divorced in 2014. On December 23, 2015, he married Cuban-American television host and model Daisy Fuentes in Aspen, Colorado. He has spoken publicly about their relationship being built on deep friendship, mutual support, and romance. Richard Marx children have pursued their own creative paths, with Brandon following in his father's footsteps as a musician. There is no verified public information regarding net worth, though various estimates place it between $18 million and $30 million.

Richard Marx Best Songs:
Right Here Waiting
Hold On to the Nights
Endless Summer Nights
Don't Mean Nothing
Should've Known Better
Satisfied
Hazard
Now and Forever
Keep Coming Back
Dance with My Father

Richard Marx Albums:
Richard Marx
Repeat Offender
Rush Street
Paid Vacation
Flesh and Bone
Days in Avalon
My Own Best Enemy
Stories to Tell
Christmas Spirit
Beautiful Goodbye
Limitless
Songwriter