Franklyn Marks

Franklyn Marks (May 31, 1911, Cleveland, Ohio - July 12, 1976,

film soundtracks and jazz

Biography

Early in his career, Marks wrote the song Merry Widow on a Spree for Irving Mills (1937, as Frank Marks), which he also recorded as a pianist with the Millphonics Orchestra.^[1] In the same year he played more of his compositions with his own band.^[2] In the next few years, he arranged for Charlie Barnet and was involved in the orchestration of the musicals Too Many Girls and Best Foot Forward.^[3]

Starting in 1950, Marks wrote compositions for the

Ike Carpenter, Bob Crosby, Laurindo Almeida and Artie Shaw. In 1953 he accompanied Yma Sumac on the piano at the Mocambo-Club in Hollywood.^[4]

Concomitantly, Marks worked as a composer and arranger for Hollywood studios, especially for

Paul J. Smith, George Bruns, and Marvin Hamlisch before writing the music for the first film featuring Scrooge McDuck in 1967. He also wrote single film songs, such as "Climb the Mountain" for William Alwyn's soundtrack to Third Man on the Mountain (1959).^[6]

^ Brian Rust, Jazz and Ragtime Records (1897-1942): L-Z, p. 1173.
^ Brian Rust, The American Dance Band Discography 1917-1942: Arthur Lange to Bob Zurke, p. 1187.
^ Steven Suskin, The Sound of Broadway Music: A Book of Orchestrators and Orchestrations. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2011, pp. 338, 377.
^ Billboard, October 3, 1953, p. 15.
^ Letter in 1967 to Michael Sparkes. Stan Kenton: This is an Orchestra! Denton: University of North Texas Press, 2010, p. 85.
^ Ian Johnson, William Alwyn: The Art of Film Music. Boydell & Brewer 2006, p. 288

Authority control databases
International	FAST VIAF
National	Germany United States
Artists	MusicBrainz