I Found Richard Marx

The age: Preteen glory of the late 80s and early 90s. The hair was crimped, the sweaters were geometric and bright, and orthodontic treatment had begun.

The setting: The Mares household in suburbia (specifically, the confines of my bright teal-painted bedroom).

If you were a fly on the wall, you would have seen me seated next to my pink tape deck, obsessively using the play, pause, and rewind buttons to listen over and over to the most glorious notes of 1989: The beginning piano music from Richard Marx’s ballad Right Here Waiting.

I would quickly turn and mimic the notes on my nearby Casio keyboard and muster a soulful sing-a-long with Rich’s endearing raspy voice. I would have another tape deck nearby to record my notes and voice, self assured that Richard would want a copy. However, after listening to the home production, I was convinced that someone else was recording their horrible voice and/or the tape deck was malfunctioning – surely that warbling replaying through the speakers was not me. [Dramatic sigh] Richard would never hear my tribute.

Alas, years have passed by and multiple mimic-worthy ballads have come and gone. To this day, I still bring that Casio out once in a while to play an homage to the musical flavor of the month. And also to this day, I believe that every recorder has malfunctioned while recording my voice. I digress.

Anyways, I was driving the other day and Right Here Waiting came on, and my body reflexively went into a response of turning up the volume, scrunching my face in romantic pain, and holding a fist to my heart while I sung along. After I was done the mini car concert, I resolved to find Richard Marx, circa 2008.

Turns out he isn’t that hard to find. This guy’s in Chicago and actually has done a lot of stuff; he still records, produces, and plays live in concert. No one (no one!) can break Richard Marx.

Richard Marx: 1988























Richard Marx: 2008
















My favorite part is that his hair hasn’t changed in 20 years, except he has cut off the party in the back. The bushy top has been completely preserved. How entrancing.

Oh, Richard, if you only knew that I am still right here waiting… for you.

(Learn more about Richard Marx at www.richardmarx.com)