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Johnny Marks

 
Artist: Johnny Marks
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists
  • Born: November 10, 1909
  • Died: September 03, 1985
  • Genres: Holiday
  • Instrument: Drums Representative Album: "Born to Sing"

Biography

Best remembered for seasonal favorites like "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer," composer Johnny Marks was born in Mt. Vernon, NY, on November 10, 1909. After attending Columbia University, he studied music in Paris, returning stateside to work as a radio producer; during World War II, Marks additionally produced entertainment for American troops stationed overseas. In 1947, he was asked to write a song based on "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," a poem written by his brother-in-law Robert L. May, a copywriter with the Montgomery Ward department store chain. Ward's had already given away six-million illustrated copies of May's story before Marks even composed a note, but the song itself (popularized by Gene Autry's 1949 recording) still sold over 30-million copies in the decades to follow, inspiring a beloved television special which premiered in 1964. Marks also authored several other yuletide classics, including "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "A Holly, Jolly Christmas," "When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter," and "Silver and Gold"; a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he died September 3, 1985. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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Actor: Johnny Marks
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Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Nov 10, 1909
  • Died: Sep 03, 1985
  • Active: '60s, 2000s
  • Major Genres: Children's/Family, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: The Judy Garland Show, Episode 15: The Christmas Special, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • First Major Screen Credit: The Judy Garland Show, Episode 15: The Christmas Special (1963)

Biography

Songwriter Johnny Marks is best remembered for writing such Christmas classics as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and "A Holly, Jolly Christmas." Marks received his education at Colgate and Columbia Universities. He also studied in Paris. During WWII, Marks taught singing and also produced shows for radio and the military. He started a music publishing company in 1949. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Wikipedia: Johnny Marks
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia

Johnny Marks (November 10, 1909 - September 3, 1985) was an American songwriter. Although he was Jewish, he specialized in Christmas songs and wrote numerous standards, including "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (a hit for Gene Autry and others), "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" (first recorded by Bing Crosby), "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (a hit for Brenda Lee), and "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (recorded by the Quinto Sisters, then Burl Ives).

Contents

Early life

Marks was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He was Jewish.[1][2] A graduate of McBurney School (High School in NYC)Colgate and Columbia Universities, Marks later studied in Paris. He earned a Bronze Star and 4 Battle Stars as a Captain in the 26th Special Service Company during World War II. He is a great-uncle of economist Steven Levitt.

Career

His works include many contemporary Christmas songs, most notably "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". The song was based on a poem by the same name, written by Marks’ brother-in-law and creator of Rudolph, Robert L. May. Although "Frosty the Snowman" and "Jingle Bell Rock" have the same musical structure and chord progressions as Rudolph, Rockin', and Holly Jolly, they were written by different authors.

In addition to his songwriting, he founded St. Nicholas Music in 1949, and served as director of ASCAP from 1957 to 1961. He died in New York City.

Works (incomplete list)

Christmas Songs

Other

  • Happy New Year Darling – 1946 (with J. Carmen Lombardo)
  • Address Unknown
  • Chicken Today and Feathers Tomorrow
  • Don't Cross Your Fingers, Cross Your Heart
  • Free
  • How Long Is Forever?
  • I Guess There's an End to Everything
  • Neglected
  • She'll Always Remember
  • Summer Holiday
  • There's Always Tomorrow
  • We Speak of You Often
  • What've You Got to Lose But Your Heart
  • Who Calls?

Notes

  1. ^ Bloom, Nate (2006-12-19). "The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs". InterfaithFamily. http://www.interfaithfamily.com/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=ekLSK5MLIrG&b=297399&ct=3303147. Retrieved on 2006-12-19. 
  2. ^ Barbara Ellen (9 December 2001). "Why a sad song says so much". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/dec/09/features.review57. 

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