Johnny Marks

Johnny Marks (November 10, 1909 - September 3, 1985) was an American songwriter. He is remembered today for his Christmas songs which include "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).

Early life

Marks was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He was Jewish.cite web | last =Bloom| first =Nate| authorlink =| coauthors =| title=The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs| publisher =InterfaithFamily| date =2006-12-19 | url =http://www.interfaithfamily.com/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=ekLSK5MLIrG&b=297399&ct=3303147| format =| accessdate =2006-12-19] A graduate of 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 includes stellar 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

*Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – 1949 (inspired by a poem by Robert L. May, Marks' brother-in-law)
*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)
*Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree – 1958
*A Merry, Merry Christmas to You – 1959
*The Santa Claus Parade – 1959
*A Holly Jolly Christmas – 1962
*Jingle, Jingle, Jingle – 1964
*The Most Wonderful Day of the Year – 1964
*Silver and Gold – 1964
*We Are Santa's Elves – 1964
*A'Caroling We Go – 1966
*Joyous Christmas – 1969

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