Richard Marx, 62, may have ruled the late 1980s and early 1990s as the king of love songs and ballads, but more than three decades after he dominated the music charts, the iconic singer still looks and sounds like it’s 1989.
Currently on tour with Rod Stewart, Richard Marx brought audience members “to tears” at his recent Hollywood Bowl show in Los Angeles. Marx closed his set with his 1989 love song “Right Here Waiting.” With audience members calling his voice “magical,” the iconic balladeer’s vocals showed no signs of wear and tear over time. His ’80s-style big hair and shoulder pads may have been retired with the decade, but his stellar voice still reigns supreme, and fans were visibly emotional watching the singer’s performance.
“No better singer in the world, amazing,” gushed one commenter on a social media video shared of Marx’s performance.
Another added, “He sounds the same from back in the day.”
Richard Marx Still Sounds Like the ’80s Hitmaker Fans Remember
One of the most successful adult contemporary artists of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Marx built a career on a seemingly endless catalog of chart-topping ballads. Hits such as “Hold On to the Nights,” “Endless Summer Nights,” “Hazard,” and “Right Here Waiting” catapulted him to superstardom. Marx has sold more than 30 million records worldwide and became the first solo artist whose first seven singles reached the Billboard Hot 100 Top Five.
For many fans, Richard Marx’s songs serve as the soundtrack to their lives. Seeing him live is less a nostalgic throwback and more an extension of the heartfelt connection fans have always felt to his music.
Related: Ringo Starr, 85, Leaves Fans Stunned At Recent Concert: ‘Looks 45!’
The Story Behind “Right Here Waiting”
Part of what has always made Richard Marx’s ballads feel so personal is his ability to draw from his own experiences to create music that resonates deeply with listeners.
In videos shared from Marx’s Hollywood Bowl performance, the audience can be seen and heard flawlessly singing along to “Right Here Waiting,” which the Chicago-born singer-songwriter wrote as a love letter to his then-wife, actress and dancer Cynthia Rhodes of Dirty Dancing fame.
Decades later, the honesty and vulnerability of the song still resonate. “Right Here Waiting” quickly became Richard Marx’s signature song, but the ballad continues to strike a chord with generations of fans who first discovered his music in the late ’80s and those who are now being introduced to his music through streaming playlists and social media videos.
Why Richard Marx’s Biggest Hit Still Resonates Today
“Right Here Waiting” spent three weeks at No. 1 and remains Marx’s best-selling single. The song is still considered one of the most beloved love songs of its era. Judging by the reaction from fans on social media and those watching the singer perform live, his music remains just as relevant today as it was when it first dominated the airwaves in the late 1980s.
Related: Rush’s New Drummer Completely Nails One of the Bands’s ‘Most Challenging Songs’
This story was originally published by Parade on Jun 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.