THE FRANKLYN MARKS STORY

Franklyn Marks, Emmy award nominated composer, arranger, orchestrator, songwriter and pianist, was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 31, 1911. His parents provided piano lessons and so rapid was his progress that by 1927 he was performing on WHK radio with his high school jazz ensemble the Harmony Knights.

Upon graduating with honors from Glenville High School, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Dartmouth College, where he majored in music. He toured as pianist with the Barbary Coast Orchestra, Dartmouth’s acclaimed dance band, and maintained such high academic standing that he earned membership in Phi Beta Kappa as well as a senior fellowship. Being a senior fellow meant he was not required to take any courses during his senior year so he was able to spend as much time as possible enjoying the beautiful Baker Library which had just been built in 1928.

His first job after completing college in 1932, as a pianist with the Merle Jacobs Orchestra, was followed soon afterwards by a touring engagement as a pianist and arranger with Irving Aaronson and his band The Commanders. In 1934, while in Los Angeles, the band recorded Franklyn Marks’ arrangement of “Love in Bloom” with Bing Crosby. In 1935, they recorded his composition “Commanderism.” Another original composition, “Cream Puff,” was recorded by Artie Shaw in 1936. Other published works from this time include “Plastered in Paris”, “Lullaby for a Lamp Post,” and “The Professor Visits Harlem.”

Now living in New York and established as a staff arranger at NBC Radio, Franklyn Marks was working with many artists including Red Nichols, Dinah Shore, and Eddie Cantor. During this time, at Glenn Miller’s suggestion, Marks began studying with Joseph Schillinger, whose many distinguished students included Glenn Miller and George Gershwin. However, Franklyn Marks distinguished himself by completing the four year course of study which qualified him to be an authorized teacher of the Schillinger System. Its complexity and emphasis on mathematical techniques fascinated him and he used it to advance his own considerable skills in composition.

Meanwhile, he had met his future wife who was singing with the Wallace Sisters trio on the Kate Smith show. They were wed in April, 1937 and welcomed daughter Kathleen in November 1938.

He spent a season in 1943 with Paul Laval’s Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street and then from 1944 to 1946, he served in the U.S. Army with the 97th Armed Ground Forces Band.

In 1947 Marks moved to Los Angeles, settling in North Hollywood with his wife and daughter. He continued working as a freelance arranger and taught Schillinger System at the California Academy of Music. He began to write many original compositions, a ballet (“The Bridge,” performed in France and in Washington D.C.), a symphonic suite (“West Virginia,” premiered by the Burbank Symphony) and a string quartet (premiered by the Hollywood String Quartet) as well as works for Stan Kenton’s Innovations Orchestra (“Trajectories” and “Evening in Pakistan”) Also, another daughter, Carolyn, was born in 1951.

During 1953 and 1954. Marks toured Europe as arranger and conductor for the remarkable vocalist Yma Sumac.

But in 1955, there was a big transition. He started working at Walt Disney Studios. At first, he worked with the Mouseketeers. Then, mentored by Paul Smith, he learned the specialized techniques used to create scores for animated cartoons and live action films. He also contributed many beautiful orchestrations and songs. His song “Climb the Mountain” written for the 1959 film “Third Man on the Mountain” was featured at the spectacular June 14, 1959 festive grand opening of the Matterhorn bobsled ride at Disneyland.

His 1969 score for the two episode Wonderful World of Disney show “Charlie the Lonesome Cougar” was nominated for an Emmy in 1970.

His many Disney film credits are listed on IMDb.

Other notable achievements from the 1960s and ‘70s include his 1966 composition “The New World,” based on themes from Dvorak’s Symphony #9, performed at the Los Angeles Music Center by Stan Kenton and the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra as well as “Night and the Sea” and “Dialogue,” written for and recorded by longtime friend and colleague Laurindo Almeida.

Franklyn Marks died on July 12, 1976 at age 65 following a long struggle with cancer. His great love of learning, along with his tremendous creativity and versatility, propelled him from the hot jazz of the 1920s through the amazing flourishing of American music known as the Swing Era and onwards into the ever-evolving technological challenges of the second half of the twentieth century. He will be remembered as a musician’s musician.