On this day in 1989: Richard Marx was enjoying his third and final week at #1 on the U.S. Singles Chart with “Right Here Waiting.” “Right Here Waiting” was the second single from ‘Repeat Offender’, after “Satisfied”. Marx wrote the song on the road as a love letter to his then wife, actress Cynthia Rhodes, who was in South Africa shooting a film.

“Right Here Waiting” entered the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart at #44 the week of July 8, 1989, and became Marx’s third consecutive #1 single on August 12, 1989. Certified Gold on August 21, the record spent three consecutive weeks at #1, replaced by ‘Cold Hearted’ by Paula Abdul the week of September 2, 1989. The song was Marx’s first of several to go to #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. Certified Platinum on October 16, 1989, “Right Here Waiting” is Marx’s best selling single.

Here is the complete Top 20 on the U.S. Singles Chart from this day back in 1989:

1 1 RIGHT HERE WAITING –•– Richard Marx – 8 (1)
2 3 COLD HEARTED –•– Paula Abdul – 10 (2)
3 6 HANGIN’ TOUGH –•– New Kids On The Block – 7 (3)
4 4 DON’T WANNA LOSE YOU –•– Gloria Estefan – 8 (4)
5 2 ON OUR OWN –•– Bobby Brown – 12 (2)
6 9 SECRET RENDEZVOUS –•– Karyn White – 14 (6)
7 5 ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY –•– Great White – 16 (5)
8 11 THE END OF THE INNOCENCE –•– Don Henley – 10 (8)
9 12 FRIENDS –•– Jody Watley with Eric B. & Rakim – 11 (9)
10 13 ANGEL EYES –•– Jeff Healey Band – 11 (10)

11 7 I LIKE IT –•– Dino – 16 (7)
12 17 SHOWER ME WITH YOUR LOVE –•– Surface – 9 (12)
13 14 SACRED EMOTION –•– Donny Osmond – 11 (13)
14 15 KEEP ON MOVIN’ –•– Soul II Soul – 10 (14)
15 22 HEAVEN –•– Warrant – 6 (15)
16 20 18 AND LIFE –•– Skid Row – 8 (16)
17 21 IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME –•– Cher – 8 (17)
18 8 BATDANCE –•– Prince – 11 (1)
19 28 GIRL I’M GONNA MISS YOU –•– Milli Vanilli – 4 (19)
20 19 HEADED FOR A HEARTBREAK –•– Winger – 13 (19)