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Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, producer and best-selling author Richard Marx, 61, is making the most of his seventh decade. “I have the best job on the planet,” says Marx, who launches a
new weekly podcast, Stories to Tell, on Feb. 18. In each episode, Marx will mix cocktails and conversation with guests including Katie Couric, Paul Stanley from KISS, Rick Springfield and
Kenny G. He is also in the midst of an acoustic concert tour with co-headliner Springfield, 75.
While Marx has no plans to retire anytime soon, he does have a role model in mind as he approaches that stage in his life and career. “I hope to sort of take the Tony Bennett train where, a
year, year and a half before Tony died, he was still performing,” he says. “I saw him, and he was still phenomenal. As long as I can get up there and do it well.”
Marx recently spoke with AARP about the new artists he’s passionate about, what keeps him in tip-top performance shape; and how he and wife Daisy Fuentes, 58, like to spend their time
together.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
I was listening to your music as I waited for you to jump on the video call.
Oh yeah? What particularly?
Playing right now is Until I Find You Again.
That’s a very obscure one. Of all the hits, that was not one of them.
Richard Marx performs at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California, in August 2024. Steve Jennings/Getty ImagesWhat music do you listen to?
Most of my friends, peers, coworkers tend to be a little bit older because I was a kid when I showed up in L.A. ... And when we get around to talking about music, I’m the only one in my
friend group who is constantly referencing new music. A lot of my friends don’t listen to [the SiriusXM channel] Hits 1 or [streaming service Spotify’s] New Music Friday or any of the stuff
that I listen to that keeps me involved and tuned in to what’s going on. ... I was just listening to Tate McRae and Lauv, which is this artist I love, and LANY. I hear stuff all the time
[that] I’m just so blown away by it and envious of, and it’s great. It really helps keep you young.
You’ve collaborated with many artists over the years. Do any in this new crop inspire that?
I could see collaborating with any of them, but the last person they need help from is me. They’re doing just fine. When I was in my 20s or 30s ... there were older artists who I really
admired, who I ended up working with. When I was in high school, my favorite singer was Kenny Loggins. I learned a lot about my own singing from listening to Kenny’s records. And then when I
was 19, 20, I met him. We became friends. We did a bunch of songs together. So I definitely always embraced the idea of working with my people who came before me. But I don’t expect that or
anticipate that from young artists. I think that they really want to collaborate with each other, and that makes sense to me.