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Richard Marx makes a much-anticipated visit to Western PA

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By Kristin Emery
It’s not easy to stay relevant in the music industry, but Richard Marx built on his success as a 1980s chart topper to go on to a three-decade-long career as a performer, songwriter and producer. This summer, the Chicago native brings his favorite hits and some new music to Western Pennsylvania.
Marx has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, starting with his self-titled debut, which went to number 8 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and spawned four Top 5 singles, including the chart-topping “Hold On To the Nights,” and “Don’t Mean Nothing,” which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. The follow-up, 1989’s “Repeat Offender,” was even more successful, hitting No. 1 and going quadruple-platinum with two No. 1 singles in “Satisfied” and “Right Here Waiting.” Marx is the only male artist in history to have his first seven singles reach the Top 5 on the Billboard charts.
What can fans expect from this summer’s show? “Definitely a ‘hits’ heavy show as I know that’s what fans want – just as I do when I go to concerts,” Marx says. “But, yes, there’ll be a couple new songs that will also be part of a new album I’m releasing this fall.”
He says his musical style has evolved through the years. “I think it’s changed based on the music I’ve been influenced by year to year, and also just life changes,” he says. “I’m always trying to stay fresh and try new things, creatively.”
Marx didn’t limit himself to being just a performer. He launched a second, very successful career as a songwriter and producer with songs like “To Where You Are,” the first hit single from Josh Groban’s debut album, as well as the NSYNC smash, “This I Promise You.” He went on to earn a 2004 Song of the Year Grammy for co-authoring Luther Vandross’ “Dance with My Father.” Marx has scored a total of 14 No. 1 singles both as a performer and songwriter/producer, making him a true multi-talented performer and one of only a handful of artists who have had a number one hit in each of the past four decades.
In 2014, Richard released his eighth album, “Beautiful Goodbye,” featuring all new material, which was a departure from previous albums. He says he set out to make a deliberately sexy album. “I’m known for romantic music in the past,” he says, “but this music I wrote is all more sensual and ethereal, and the lyrics are more adventurous than I’ve been willing to go in the past.”
Marx says he’s looking forward to playing Southwestern Pennsylvania this summer since it’s close to family and his heart.
“My mom’s family is from East Liverpool, Ohio,” says Marx, “so I spent some time in ‘the big city’ of Pittsburgh and, yes, I’ve played there several times. Always a blast. Great audiences.”