Johnny Marks

Johnny Marks (November 10, 1909 – September 3, 1985) was an American songwriter, music publisher, and ASCAP board member renowned for composing numerous Christmas standards, most notably "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Marks graduated from Colgate University in 1931 before studying music at Columbia University and in Paris during the 1920s and early 1930s.

Raised in a secular Jewish family, Marks experienced early cultural influences from Jewish traditions, though his household emphasized a non-religious approach to heritage. He grew up with two brothers, George and Richard, in the New York area, where family life provided a stable suburban environment near New York City.