{"id":2237675,"date":"2026-01-16T16:12:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T16:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2237675"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:12:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T16:12:18","slug":"richard-marx-channels-master-of-phrasing-sinatra-on-new-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/richard-marx-channels-master-of-phrasing-sinatra-on-new-album\/","title":{"rendered":"Richard Marx channels ‘master of phrasing’ Sinatra on new album"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Richard Marx<\/a> knows his way around a good martini.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s fitting, then, that the melodic maestro<\/a> behind timeless ballads \u201cRight Here Waiting\u201d and \u201cHold On to the Nights\u201d \u2013 along with 30 other Top 40 songs on the pop and adult contemporary charts \u2013 would channel his drink of choice into a suave new album.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter Hours,\u201d<\/a> Marx\u2019s first release since 2022\u2019s \u201cSongwriter,\u201d finds him embracing the Great American Songbook, honoring the legacy of Gershwin with longtime Barbra Streisand pianist Randy Waldman (\u201cLove is Here to Stay\u201d)<\/a> and recasting the ballroom classic made famous by Frank Sinatra (\u201cYoung at Heart\u201d) with friend Rod Stewart. But along with his well-produced homages on the album, out now, the chameleonic Marx immersed that classic style to some new songs, swinging with Kenny G and Chris Botti on originals \u201cBig Band Boogie\u201d<\/a> and \u201cAll I Ever Needed.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Marx, 62, also collaborates with wife Daisy Fuentes<\/a>, the former MTV VJ who stole his heart a decade ago, on \u201cMagic Hour.\u201d<\/a> Fuentes helped him pen the lyrics to the sultry blast of big band (pal John Stamos plays percussion on the track) and it\u2019s one of several beguiling offerings on the sleek album. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Chatting recently from his home in Hidden Hills, California, Marx, always a gregarious conversationalist, expounded on his latest musical challenge, shared his affection for Stewart and explained what he loves about doing \u201cStories to Tell,\u201d<\/a> his podcast and YouTube series that has welcomed everyone from Bootsy Collins<\/a> to Rick Springfield<\/a>, usually with a drink nearby.<\/p>\n\n

More: <\/strong>Harry Styles announces first new album since 2022\u2019s ‘Harry\u2019s House’<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Question: Was the Great American Songbook something you always thought you might tackle?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Richard Marx:<\/strong> It was never on my bingo card. The last time anyone really did it was Rod Stewart (with his \u201cThe Great American Songbook\u201d series<\/a>). I\u2019m a songwriter, so the idea of an album of covers would not be for me. That said, it created a really interesting challenge, which was, what if I do half an album of standards and half new songs that sounded like that? At this point in my career I need to do things that are fun for me.<\/p>\n

And then you gave yourself the additional challenge of recording it live in full takes with an orchestra.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I wanted to do something badass. I remember driving to the studio that morning and was really nervous. I love that feeling of being nervous and wanting to impress everybody. I walked in and there were 24 musicians. So many of the horn and string players came to me and said, \u2018Dude, nobody does this.\u2019 We did every song (on the album) in three days. There was nothing laborious about it. I even dressed up for the studio.<\/p>\n

You have a very sultry version of Frank Sinatra\u2019s \u201cFly Me to the Moon\u201d on your album. Did you look to any particular crooner for inspiration?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Mostly Frank and Dean (Martin). I\u2019m such a fan of both of those guys. And Tony Bennett. But mostly Frank. If you go back and listen to his songs, talk about a master of phrasing and making it sound effortless. When it came to the songs I wrote, like \u2018All I Ever Needed,<\/a>‘ I remember thinking, \u2018OK, you\u2019re a young songwriter in 1948 and presenting this to Sinatra.\u2019 But there are no comparisons in our voices!<\/p>\n

More: <\/strong>Barry Manilow adds 6 more tour dates following lung cancer diagnosis<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Rod Stewart is with you on a very sweet version of \u201cYoung at Heart\u201d and you\u2019re touring with him this summer. What do you love most about the guy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Everything. I\u2019m a lifelong \u2026 not just a fan, but he\u2019s been a hero of mine. I met him in passing a couple of times and whenever I was around him I was always like, \u2018I\u2019m not worthy.\u2019 Three years ago I was touring Australia and I ran into him in a restaurant and it was a classic case of manifestation. We ended up talking in a corner for a couple of hours and it was the beginning of a dear friendship. We text, go to dinner, our wives love each other.<\/p>\n

So it was an easy sell to get him on the record?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A year ago we were in pub in London and in conversation I told him about the album and he said, \u2018We should sing something together.\u2019 It was his idea to do \u2018Young at Heart.\u2019 This guy who I worshipped all my life, my friendship with him is so dear to me. He is everything I always wanted him to be.<\/p>\n\n

More: <\/strong>Amy Grant reveals message behind ‘The 6th of January (Yasgur\u2019s Farm)’<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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You also cowrote the song \u201cMagic Hour\u201d with your wife, Daisy. What is it like writing with her?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve written a few songs over the years. I always write the music first and sometimes she\u2019ll just talk and I\u2019ll form it into a lyric. With \u2018Magic Hour,\u2019<\/a> I wrote the music in a matter of minutes. We were in Australia and we went to a beach on the Gold Coast and I’m humming and she said, \u2018Seriously, you don\u2019t have words for that?\u2019 At worst, we crack open a bottle of wine and sit over it (to come up with the lyrics).<\/p>\n\n

You and Daisy had your<\/strong> \u201cTequila Talk\u201d<\/a> podcast and last year you started \u201cStories to Tell.\u201d What do you enjoy most about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s at my house, so it\u2019s painless. It\u2019s over drinks, even though half of my guests are sober, which is a bummer (laughs). I have no expectations, but I love having an interesting conversation over a drink. It\u2019s a great excuse to get together with people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n