Quotes by Richard Marx

"The lyrics on this album really reflect more of me, what Im going through and what Im thinking about. Until I had kids, I never really worried about anything. Not that I necessarily include all that in my songs, because I still want to be someone people can listen to for enjoyment. I dont care if Im saying something no one else has ever said as long as I'm entertaining somebody."

"I couldnt resist going back into the studio and seeing how these songs in my head sounded on tape. They came out better than I imagined, which I attribute to the people I surrounded myself with. The whole process of making this record was effortless. And hey, if its not fun, its not worth doing." -Richard on his Paid Vacation CD

"I can't promise you anything, but you should come to L.A."

-Lionel Richie's advice to Richard after hearing a demo of his.

"He was recording his first solo album and having trouble with the background vocal," Richard recalls. "He tells me, Come try this part. It worked and I ended up singing on his album."

-Richard on working with Lionel Richie singing background vocals on his album.

"I got a call last summer to write a song for the group. I had a song going that I thought would be good for them, so I did a home demo that geared toward their sound. A week later I was told they loved the song but that it would be produced by one of their regular producers from the last album. The next day, I got the call that the guys had personally requested that I produce it myself. Soon thereafter I flew to LA where I cut the track with keyboard programmer C.J. Vanston and guitarist Michael Thompson, then we waited for a hole in the group's schedule (not an easy task) and I flew to Orlando to record their vocals. I hadn't met them, and really wasn't even sure who was who. By the end of the first night, the vocals were done. These guys sing so well and are such studio pros that it was a walk in the park. Justin ended up asking to stay behind and just sing the song over and over for fun. So he and I did that until 2am. When we weren't working on vocals, we were laughing hysterically at each other. Lots of recreating scenes from Mike Myers' So I Married An Axe Murderer and Austin Powers. I can say, without hesitation, that working with them was the most pleasurable experience I've ever had as a producer. It's just a shame the sales of the new album are so dismal."

"Rush Street definitely has traces of the rhythm and blues artists I listened to while growing up in Chicago," Richard says, "I loved artists like Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, and Otis Redding, as well as so many forgotten blues, jazz, and rock n roll players who poured their heart and soul into their music. Although my voice is the common link, nothing on this album sounds a lot like my other records, and thats what I love most about it. I dont care about formats. I dont want to play it safe. What I want is to continually meet challenges and, perhaps, set the paceThere are a zillion things people will learn about me just by hearing this record through once. It was created from an honest and natural place, and although I cant predict how itll be received, Ive made an album thats already a success with me."

"I had never felt comfortable as a white singer singing R&B. This time, I thought What the hell! If I can create the atmosphere that I want then it really doesnt matter what the color of my skin is. "For me, being a musician is not about an image or controversy or what looks cool. Its about the music. It comes down to having the privilege of expressing yourself, and once again I felt that privilege with this album. But what makes Flesh and Bone particularly special is that its a culmination of my connection to those R&B sounds I grew up with."