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I’ve always been a Richard Marx fan. I went to see him in Lubbock back in 1988 and the show was absolutely amazing—the quintessential 80’s concert. Marx is back with a brand-new single, “Magic Hour,” the first taste of his upcoming album ‘After Hours,’ set to drop in January.
He debuted the track during the finale of Dancing With the Stars Australia. The song’s got a cool story behind it. Richard recorded the entire album in just three days by blending half standards from the Great American Songbook with original tunes written in that same style. “I sang every song live along with a phenomenal rhythm quartet and a 24-piece big band,” he shared, giving the project a rich, old-school authenticity.
The inspiration for “Magic Hour” came he was hiking. Marx explained that he’s traded the traditional studio grind for nature walks, saying, “It’s as if the melodies and lyrics I’m searching for are hiding behind trees and bushes.” The melody came quickly, but the lyrics needed a spark. Enter Daisy Fuentes, Marx’s wife and creative partner, who helped finish the song while they were vacationing in Australia. “We escaped to a remote resort called Lizard Island,” Marx recalled. “On the second day on the beach, I sang the melody to Daisy and we started throwing out lines to each other. Within 30 minutes, the idea for ‘Magic Hour’ was born. Over martinis in the restaurant, we finished the lyrics.”
This Sunday, Richard will kick off his stint as a coach on The Voice Australia, bringing his decades of experience to a new generation of talent. Then it’s back to the U.S. for two shows at the end of the month, followed by a September date and seven acoustic gigs in October across the Southeast with Rick Springfield.
[Source: Premiere]