Eighties pop-rock sensation Richard Marx has written No. 1 singles for himself — together with “Hold On to the Nights” and “Proper Right here Ready” — in addition to hits for everybody from *NSYNC (“This I Promise You”) to Luther Vandross (“Dance With My Father”).
However even he needed to defer to 1 legendary tunesmith on his new album, “Songwriter,” out Friday. That may be Burt Bacharach — the 94-year-old composer behind classics similar to “Raindrops Hold Fallin’ on My Head,” “(They Lengthy to Be) Near You” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”
“I’m speculated to go to his home to jot down with him. The evening earlier than I get this name from him, saying, ‘Are you able to ship me the lyrics? I write [music] to lyrics,’ ” Marx, 59, advised The Publish. “I write the exact opposite method. I write music, after which I write lyrics to the music. So I begin sweating, after which I mentioned, ‘Are you able to give me a pair hours?’ ”
The result’s the piano-laden love tune “All the time,” which is featured within the ballads part of “Songwriter.” Marx’s bold newest album is break up into genres; pop, rock and nation are the three different sections, every of which will get 5 tracks. “The factor that I’m probably the most happy with in my profession is the range of my songwriting,” mentioned Marx, whose golden pen has discovered success whether or not or not it’s for Josh Groban (“To Where You Are”) or Keith City (“Lengthy Scorching Summer season”).
The latter returned the favor on the current single “One Day Longer,” whereas Marx additionally will get “Songwriter” assist from Darius Rucker, Chris Daughtry, in addition to his sons Lucas, 30, and Jesse, 28. “My sons grew up watching how a lot I really like what I do, and I’m certain that that was a giant affect on them,” mentioned Marx, whose oldest son, Brandon, 32, can be a musician.
Marx himself discovered from one of the best, singing backup for ’80s pop superstars Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston and Madonna earlier than his 1987 self-titled debut. In truth, it was Richie who gave Marx his huge break whereas he was nonetheless in highschool.
“I had written a handful of songs; I’d made little demos of them on a cassette tape,” he mentioned. “By some means they obtained within the fingers of Lionel. Not solely did he hearken to it, however he sees that there’s a cellphone quantity on the again of the cassette, and he calls my mother and father’ quantity. Lionel f – – king Richie takes the time to name some child in Chicago and say, ‘You’re actually gifted. It’s best to come out to LA.’ ”
After graduating highschool, Marx took Richie up on his recommendation and moved to Los Angeles. And never lengthy after that, he was singing backup on Richie’s hit “You Are” and different songs from his 1982 self-titled album. “I can’t say sufficient about what that did for me,” mentioned Marx. “He’s probably the most class-act, variety, genius legend you’ll ever meet.”
Later within the ’80s, Marx obtained into the groove with Madonna. “I obtained employed to sing on the ‘True Blue’ album,” he mentioned. “It’s me and Jackie Jackson from the Jacksons singing concord on this tune [‘White Heat’].”
Apparently, although, Marx was too pale for Madonna’s tastes. “She was like, ‘Has your pores and skin ever seen the solar?’ ” he mentioned. “And I begin form of semi-flirting along with her. And I find yourself having the most important f – – king crush on Madonna. I fell in love along with her on that afternoon.”
However it was Marx’s ex-wife, “Flashdance” actress Cynthia Rhodes, who impressed his signature tune “Right Here Waiting” whereas he was on tour, and she or he was capturing a film. “I’ve not seen Cynthia for, like, seven or eight weeks, and I do know I’ve obtained one other seven weeks to go, and I’m head over heels in love along with her,” he mentioned. “And I simply wrote that tune in 20 minutes.”
Immediately, it’s former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, Marx’s spouse of seven years, who’s the article of his “All the time” affection. In truth, it was their mutual love of Bacharach that bonded the couple after they first linked on Twitter.
“After we have been first relationship, I mentioned, ‘What music do you’re keen on probably the most?’ and with out lacking a beat she mentioned, ‘I really like Burt Bacharach.’ And I went, ‘Holy shit!’ inside my mind. I used to be like, ‘I’ve to marry this lady.’ ”
