Johnny Marks

John David Marks (November 10, 1909 – September 3, 1985) was an American songwriter. He specialized in Christmas songs and wrote many holiday standards, including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (a hit for Gene Autry and others), "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (a hit for Brenda Lee), "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (recorded by the Quinto Sisters and later by Burl Ives), "Silver and Gold" (for Burl Ives), and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" (introduced by Bing Crosby).

Personal life Marks was born to a Jewish family in Mount Vernon, New York. He began writing songs when he was 13. A graduate of McBurney School in New York, N.Y., Colgate University, and Columbia University, Marks later studied in Paris. He earned a Bronze Star and four Battle Stars as an Army Captain in the 26th Special Service Company during World War II. Marks had three children: Michael, Laura, and David. Marks was the great-uncle of economist Steven Levitt.

Marks' father, Louis B. Marks (1869-1939), was a leading illumination (lighting) engineer. His wife, Margaret May Marks, was the sister of Robert L. May, who wrote the original story of Rudolph.

Career Among Marks's many works is "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer", which was based on a poem of the same name by Marks's brother-in-law, Robert L. May, Rudolph's creator. A television film based on the story and song first aired in 1964, with Marks composing the score. He felt pigeonholed by the success of the song; he felt that his best song was "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day“, which set the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1864 poem "Christmas Bells" to music.

Marks appeared as an imposter on the December 11, 1961, episode of the game show To Tell The Truth. Impersonating the owner of a herd of reindeer, he received two of the four votes. After the true contestant was revealed, Marks identified himself as the composer of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

Works (incomplete list)

Christmas songs Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – 1949 (inspired by a poem by Robert L. May, Marks's brother-in-law) I Don't Want a Lot for Christmas - 1950 When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter – 1952 The Night Before Christmas Song – 1952 An Old-Fashioned Christmas – 1952 Everyone's a Child at Christmas – 1956 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – 1956 (words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, adapted by Marks) Run Rudolph Run - 1958 (words and music were written solely by Chuck Berry, Marks received the writing credit due to his trademark of the Rudolph character) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – 1958 A Merry, Merry Christmas to You – 1959 The Santa Claus Parade – 1959 A Caroling We Go - 1966 Joyous Christmas - 1969

A Holly Jolly Christmas – 1965 (separate single release), 1964-65** Jingle, Jingle, Jingle – 1964 The Most Wonderful Day of the Year – 1964 Silver and Gold – 1964-65** We Are Santa's Elves – 1964 There's Always Tomorrow - 1964 The Island of Misfit Toys - 1964 We're a Couple of Misfits - 1964 Burl Ives released "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Silver and Gold," two songs he sang as his character Sam the Snowman, as singles for the 1965 holiday season, the year after the TV production.

From the 1975 DePatie-Freling TV Production The Tiny Tree To Love And Be Loved - 1975 When Autumn Comes - 1975 Tell It to a Turtle - 1975 A Caroling We Go - 1966 A Merry Merry Christmas To You - 1959 Joyous Christmas - 1969

From the 1976 ABC/Rankin-Bass TV Production Rudolph's Shiny New Year The Moving Finger Writes – 1976 Turn Back The Years – 1976 It's Raining Sunshine – 1976 What A Wonderful World We Live In - 1976 Fourth Of July Parade - 1976 Have A Little Faith In Me - 1976 Have a Happy New Year - 1976

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 We Speak of You Often What've You Got to Lose But Your Heart Who Calls?