Johnny Marks

John David Marks (November 10, 1909 – September 3, 1985) was an American songwriter. He specialized in Christmas songs (although he himself was Jewish and did not celebrate Christmas) 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). He is also credited with writing "Run Rudolph Run" (recorded by Chuck Berry) but this is due to his trademark of the Rudolph character, rather than any input in the writing of the song.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 10, 1909 (Mount Vernon), Died September 3, 1985 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1936 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-101383	10-in.	4/22/1936	Summer holiday	Eddy Duchin Orchestra ; Lew Sherwood	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-102375	10-in.	7/1/1936	Summer holiday	Wingy Manone Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	PBS-09885	10-in.	12/16/1937	Neglected	Fats Waller and his Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-018150	10-in.	1/13/1938	Neglected	Palmer Brothers ; Larry Wynn	Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-024075	10-in.	7/22/1938	Don't cross your fingers, cross your heart	Jimmy Brown ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-024456	10-in.	8/5/1938	Don't cross your fingers, cross your heart	Johnny Messner ; Music Box Band ; Three Jacks	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	songwriter
Victor	BS-037685	10-in.	6/26/1939	Address unknown	Red Nichols Orchestra ; Marion Redding	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-067887	10-in.	9/19/1941	Who calls?	Alvino Rey Orchestra ; Bill Schallen	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-067929	10-in.	9/25/1941	Who calls?	Allan DeWitt ; Jan Savitt ; Top Hatters	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-068312	10-in.	11/14/1941	Who calls?	Barry Wood	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	BS-071798	10-in.	2/10/1942	She'll always remember	Dinah Shore	Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	songwriter
Victor	BS-071849	10-in.	2/13/1942	She'll always remember	Carl Denny ; Hal McIntyre Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BS-071862	10-in.	2/18/1942	She'll always remember	Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra ; Modernaires	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BS-073459	10-in.	3/19/1942	She'll always remember	Earl Hines Orchestra ; Madeline Green ; Three Varieties	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal trio	songwriter
Victor	E0VB-4637	10-in.	5/19/1950	Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer	Wilf Carter	Male vocal solo, with string band	composer

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Marks, Johnny," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107948.

Marks, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107948.

"Marks, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.