Marx was born to Dick and Ruth Marx. Marx grew up in a mixed faith household where father was Jewish and his mother was a Christian. His father was a jingle writer for commercials for popular products such as 'Chicken of the Sea', which is where Marx got his start writing at the tender age of five. His father also was talented jazz musician, well-known in the Chicago area.
At the age of 17, Marx created a demo to showcase his talents, which landed in the hands of soul artist Lionel Richie. Richie invited Marx to Hollywood saying, "I can't promise you anything, but you should come to L.A." Marx would eventually appear as a background singer in Richie's songs "You Are" and "Running With The Night" as well as on Richie's follow-up album, which included the smash hit "All Night Long".
*Richard Marx*
Marx's first album, a self-titled work, went multi-platinum, selling nearly 4 million copies. He also earned his first #1 single, "Hold on to the nights", which he told Songfacts.com was inspired by a friend who had the dilemma of having met the love of his life when both the friend and the girl in question were already in relationships. He also had several other top five hits including "Don’t Mean Nothing" (#3), "Should've Known Better" (#3) and "Endless Summer Nights" (#2). He later revealed in an interview on 'VH-1 Classic' that his favorite song that he performed from his first album was "Have Mercy."
*Repeat Offender*
Repeat Offender eventually moved into the #1 spot and gave Marx two more #1 hit singles.
*Rush Street*
Rush Street's "Hazard" (#1), which depicted a man's rejection in a fictional version of Hazard, Nebraska. He released Paid Vacation in 1994, Flesh & Bone in 1997, Days in Avalon in 2000 and My Own Best Enemy in 2004.
Richard Marx also sang with Donna Lewis, best known for her hit "I Love You Always Forever", on the track "At the Beginning" of the Anastasia soundtrack. He has sung background vocals for Madonna in her True Blue album.
He has served as a writer/producer for an extensive list of other recording artists, including Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, Keith Urban, 98 Degrees, Kenny Loggins, Emerson Drive, Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton, *NSYNC, Olivia Newton-John, Sarah Brightman, SheDaisy, John Farnham and Vince Gill.
Marx has been married to Cynthia Rhodes, who starred in the 1987 blockbuster Dirty Dancing and is a former lead singer for 80s pop band Animotion, since 1989. The couple has three sons: Brandon, Lucas, and Jesse. Brandon is the eldest followed by Lucas then Jesse.
One of Marx's most recent works is a song titled "Remember When", composed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. Performed by LeAnn Rimes, the song may be heard on the park's official 50th Anniversary album, as well as selected times in the park.
Thanks to You
Richard Marx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gave me your heart
Your shoulder when I needed to cry
You gave me hope when all my hope is gone
Wings so my dreams can fly
And I haven't told you enough
Haven't been good enough, making you see
My love for you will live in my heart
Until eternity's through....
I see your smile in the eyes of my child
I am who I am, Mama, Thanks to you
You gave me your word,
Gave me your voice
Gave me your everything,
Each breath of your life
You believe when I can never have
You teach my faith to survive
And I never can do enough
Never thank you enough, for all that you are
(Repeat Chorus)
I know the treasure, I'm filled with grace
Whenever I see your face
(...music....).
And I see your smile in the eyes of my child
I am who I am, Mama, Thanks to You
To you.....
The song "Thanks to You" by Richard Marx is a touching tribute to a mother figure. The lyrics reflect a deep appreciation for everything the mother has done for the singer – from giving him life and support to instilling faith and hope in him. The first verse mentions how the mother was always there for the singer, providing him comfort and encouragement during difficult times. He expresses regret that he hasn't been able to show his gratitude properly. The chorus states that the singer's love for his mother will endure and that he sees her influence in his child as well. The second verse acknowledges the depth of the mother's devotion to her child, with her being willing to give everything up for him. Again, the singer is humbled by his mother's sacrifices and the fact that he can never thank her enough for all that she has done. The song ends on a hopeful and grateful note, with the singer acknowledging that he is blessed to have a mother like her and thanking her for everything that she has done for him.
Overall, the song is a touching tribute to the bond between a mother and child, and the sacrifices that mothers make for their children. It underscores the importance of gratitude and appreciation, and the singer's humility and love come through strongly in his emotive vocals. The song has an emotional impact on anyone who has had a close relationship with their mother, reminding listeners of the value of familial love and support.
Line by Line Meaning
You gave me life,
You brought me into the world and gave me existence.
Gave me your heart
You shared your love and compassion with me.
Your shoulder when I needed to cry
You were always there to provide comfort and support when I was upset.
You gave me hope when all my hope is gone
You were my source of optimism and positivity when I felt hopeless.
Wings so my dreams can fly
You gave me the confidence and encouragement to pursue my aspirations.
And I haven't told you enough
I feel I have not expressed my gratitude and appreciation to you sufficiently.
Haven't been good enough, making you see
I recognize that I may not have been the best version of myself and apologize for not showing it to you.
My love for you will live in my heart
My affection for you will endure and remain strong over time.
Until eternity's through....
My love for you will continue for all time to come.
I see your smile in the eyes of my child
I can sense your joy and love reflected in the face of our offspring.
I am who I am, Mama, Thanks to you
My identity and character are shaped and influenced by your values and guidance.
You gave me your word,
You made promises and commitments to me.
Gave me your voice
You spoke up for me and advocated on my behalf.
Gave me your everything,
You were generous and selfless in giving all that you could to me.
Each breath of your life
You devoted your energy and attention to me throughout your entire existence.
You believe when I can never have
You had faith in me when I didn't believe in myself.
You teach my faith to survive
You instilled in me the values and principles necessary to endure tough times.
And I never can do enough
I appreciate that there is no amount of gratitude or gestures that can truly repay you.
Never thank you enough, for all that you are
I recognize the tremendous sacrifices you have made for me and can never fully express my gratitude.
I know the treasure, I'm filled with grace
I feel a sense of blessedness and abundance in my life because of you.
Whenever I see your face
Your presence and essence bring me comfort and happiness.
To you.....
Everything I owe, everything I am, and everything I will be is thanks to you, mom.
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
christian cadigal
No question and no doubt Richard Marx is a genius song writer and a singer. Incomparable!!! 👍👍👍👌👌👌💗💗💗
Cecile Lubin
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Anthony Ford
O yes he surely is👍👍😎👌🇹🇹
TheNickel999
christian cadigal
Oliver Smit Saunders
how can someone dislike this..this just hits your feelings right
Anthony Ford
@Christopher Sibug correct 👌
Anthony Ford
God Alone knows 🙃🤷
Christopher Sibug
Maybe they dont love their mother.
SoftRoseforYou
Thank you Richard for writing such a beautiful song for Mother's Day. You never stop to amaze me with your beautiful songs...
J
A gifted musician, but also a wonderful human being! A beautiful song! ❤️ I'll play it for my mom!