Arts & Literature
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Stories to Tell: A Memoir
National Bestseller
Legendary musician Richard Marx offers an enlightening, entertaining look at his life and career.
Richard Marx is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the history of popular music. His self-titled 1987 album went triple platinum and made him the first male solo artist (and second solo artist overall after Whitney Houston) to have four singles from their debut crack the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. His follow-up, 1989's Repeat Offender, was an even bigger smash, going quadruple platinum and landing two singles at number one. He has written fourteen number one songs in total, shared a Song of the Year Grammy with Luther Vandross, and collaborated with a variety of artists including NSYNC, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, and Keith Urban. Lately, he's also become a Twitter celebrity thanks to his outspokenness on social issues and his ability to out-troll his trolls.
In Stories to Tell, Marx uses this same engaging, straight-talking style to look back on his life and career. He writes of how Kenny Rogers changed a single line of a song he'd written for him then asked for a 50% cut-which inspired Marx to write one of his biggest hits. He tells the uncanny story of how he wound up curled up on the couch of Olivia Newton-John, his childhood crush, watching Xanadu. He shares the tribulations of working with the all-female hair metal band Vixen and appearing in their video. Yet amid these entertaining celebrity encounters, Marx offers a more sobering assessment of the music business as he's experienced it over four decades-the challenges of navigating greedy executives and grueling tour schedules, and the rewards of connecting with thousands of fans at sold-out shows that make all the drama worthwhile. He also provides an illuminating look at his songwriting process and talks honestly about how his personal life has inspired his work, including finding love with wife Daisy Fuentes and the mystery illness that recently struck him-and that doctors haven't been able to solve.
Stories to Tell is a remarkably candid, wildly entertaining memoir about the art and business of music.
Legendary musician Richard Marx offers an enlightening, entertaining look at his life and career.
Richard Marx is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the history of popular music. His self-titled 1987 album went triple platinum and made him the first male solo artist (and second solo artist overall after Whitney Houston) to have four singles from their debut crack the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. His follow-up, 1989's Repeat Offender, was an even bigger smash, going quadruple platinum and landing two singles at number one. He has written fourteen number one songs in total, shared a Song of the Year Grammy with Luther Vandross, and collaborated with a variety of artists including NSYNC, Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, and Keith Urban. Lately, he's also become a Twitter celebrity thanks to his outspokenness on social issues and his ability to out-troll his trolls.
In Stories to Tell, Marx uses this same engaging, straight-talking style to look back on his life and career. He writes of how Kenny Rogers changed a single line of a song he'd written for him then asked for a 50% cut-which inspired Marx to write one of his biggest hits. He tells the uncanny story of how he wound up curled up on the couch of Olivia Newton-John, his childhood crush, watching Xanadu. He shares the tribulations of working with the all-female hair metal band Vixen and appearing in their video. Yet amid these entertaining celebrity encounters, Marx offers a more sobering assessment of the music business as he's experienced it over four decades-the challenges of navigating greedy executives and grueling tour schedules, and the rewards of connecting with thousands of fans at sold-out shows that make all the drama worthwhile. He also provides an illuminating look at his songwriting process and talks honestly about how his personal life has inspired his work, including finding love with wife Daisy Fuentes and the mystery illness that recently struck him-and that doctors haven't been able to solve.
Stories to Tell is a remarkably candid, wildly entertaining memoir about the art and business of music.
Editorial Reviews
"[Marx] takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of a rock and roll story…Marx has led a fascinating life; fans of his music and those less familiar with him will be absorbed." –Traci Glass, Library Journal
Readers Top Reviews
Darren E. Mathews
Marx’s book is very good and gives an excellent and readable account of his experiences in the music industry as a creator, songwriter and collaborator with many famous musicians. He gives an open and honest account of his approach to song writing and production as well as the inspiration of many of his best-known songs. He also has an interesting perspective about the ways the music business has changed in the forty years he has been involved in it. This is a well-written and easy-flowing narrative memoir of his deeply personal connections with music and the many artists with whom he collaborated. The book only increased my appreciation of an extremely gifted artist whose music still resonates profoundly with me.
marieDarren E. Ma
This is one of the Best memoir's that I have read and I have read a ton of them! .The book takes you from his childhood to inside the recording studio! I really think you will enjoy reading how the songs were written and stories about the friends he has made along the way of his amazing career . After reading this book I came to the conclusion that Richard Marx among his writing and vocal talent is a heck of a nice guy with a great sense of humor! This would make a great gift for any musician or songwriter on your list, and for the millions of fans who have loved his music..! Rock On!
DeanmarieDarren E
This story is truly inspiring! Richard Marx is so honest and totally out there with his thoughts, life and experiences. I have no doubt that if he and I had met, we would be best of friends. He was the same sense of humor and loves hard just like me. I'm a true singer and musician like he is. His stories made me laughed till my belly ached and love him not just as an incredible songwriter/singer but a true lover of life and love. He is truly a gift. Thanks so much for sharing a part of your life with us through song and story. Good things to you, my friend. :o)
HallauthorDeanmar
That Richard Marx is a prolific presence on Twitter these days made me want to get more acquainted with his story. I found his memoir both riveting and honest. Riveting in that his rise to stardom is described in a way that is refreshingly ego-free and recounts interactions with notable names that serves as a great historical record of the tastes and times. Honest in that he is candid about his own missteps...personal and professional...without the syrupy portrayal of regrets and blame that often dot these sort of autobiographies, Recommended for a fan of music from the 80s and forward as an insightful look into the industry.
KevinHallauthorDe
I'll start with I grew up in Highland Park and Deerfield so Richard is a hometown guy. That said, I bought the early records with little knowledge of him being so local. I lost track of him down the road, ran into him with SheDaisy, then again with Keith Urban and the Rick Springfield tour completely reawakened my interest in all things Richard Marx. I often leave rock books after a few chapters cause I get bored with too much childhood stuff. You won't find that here. There are tons of stories here from all parts of his career with the one complaint I'll agree with others on, it jumps around so much that it is hard to keep a feel for how things fit together. Otherwise, I found it a great read and finished it quickly wishing there was more and digging into many of his records I'd missed over the years. Well worth the price of admission. BUY.
