Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963) is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer.
Marx was born in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Ruth (née Guildoo), a former singer, and Dick Marx, a jazz musician and founder of a jingle company in the early 1960s. He attended North Shore Country Day School. He has three half-siblings from his father's previous marriage.
Marx began his career in music at the age of 5, singing commercial jingles written by his father's company; its list of advertising hits includes Arm & Hammer, Ken-L Ration and Nestlé Crunch. Marx was 17 and living in Highland Park, Illinois when a tape of his songs ended up in the hands of Lionel Richie. Richie thought Marx had talent and told the teen, "I can't promise you anything, but you should come to L.A." After graduating from North Shore Country Day School in 1981, Marx moved to Los Angeles and visited Richie.