Tag Archives: Johnny Marks

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 15

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last year this Rankin/Bass TV special turned 60 years old. It also returned to its original network-NBC-after a move to CBS in 1972 where it stayed until 2024. Whether you still watch it on traditional TV, through a streaming service or your own DVD, the tale of a misfit reindeer finding his purpose & his people remains one of the best parts of the Christmas season.

Burl Ives was the voice of the dapper sage snowman, Sam. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A group of elves and a few reindeer celebrating in song from the TV special. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A few of the residents on The Island Of Misfit Toys. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Gene Autry: “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949, written by Johnny Marks).

Burl Ives: “Silver & Gold” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

Burl Ives: “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 11

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 11 B

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Brenda Lee turns 80 today. Born Brenda Mae Tarpley on December 11, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia she became a child performer who was crowned “Little Miss Dynamite” in 1957 at the age of 12 after her first hit record. A year later, she released today’s song which is her most well known recording followed by 1960’s “I’m Sorry” which was a #1 hit that year. To date Lee has sold 100 million records around the world.

Johnny Marks-the songwriter who gave us “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” (see Day 6) – wrote today’s song as well and it became the biggest song of Lee’s career. From that point it was also a seasonal staple, but received a revival of sorts 32 years later when it was featured in the 1990 Christmas movie, “Home Alone”. Last year Lee made a video for the song while she was lip synching to the original track in honor of its 65th anniversary, sending it to the top of the charts & making Lee the oldest artist to have a top-selling record.

Brenda 1958
Home Alone
Brenda now

Top: Brenda Lee in 1958. Middle: The “Home Alone” scene featuring Lee’s song. Bottom: Lee in 2023. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Today marks 60 years since we lost one of the greatest and most important voices in music. Sam Cooke was and remains vital to the many genres of music he contributed to from his time in gospel music with The Soul Stirrers, his solo secular career in R&B, soul, pop & mainstream music and his songs of social change.

The track he released in February 1964- which was reissued less than two weeks after his death-became an unofficial anthem for the civil rights movement. With all that is going on across the universe today and with a new year only three weeks away, his message advocating a better world remains as crucial as ever.

Sam Cooke: January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964.

Sam_Cooke_2

Sam Cooke circa 1963. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Brenda Lee: “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree” (1958, written by Johnny Marks)

The Soul Stirrers: “The Last Mile Of The Way” (1955, written by Sam Cooke).

Sam Cooke: “A Change Is Gonna Come” (1964, written by Sam Cooke).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 6

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 6

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Guess which beloved holiday special is turning 60 this year? And how many of you feel as old as I do just by reading about that milestone? “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” premiered December 6, 1964 on NBC as an animated TV special and it returns to that network this year for the first time in five decades (It moved to CBS in 1972 where it remained until this year).

Both the song & the TV special are based on a story by New York native Robert L. May who wrote it in 1939 as an in-house advertising copywriter for the department store, Montgomery Ward. It was used as the subject of a free coloring book the store distributed to their shoppers. It was turned into a song in 1949 by May’s brother in law, songwriter Johnny Marks, and performed by Gene Autry the same year.

rudolph_the_red-nosed_reindeer_book
Gene Autry

Top: A copy of the 1939 coloring book distributed by Montgomery Ward in 1939 found on the Smithsonian Museum’s website. Bottom: A copy of the 1949 Gene Autry record. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Coincidentally, this year also marked the 100th birth anniversary of American screenwriter, director and producer Arthur Gardner Rankin, Jr. (July 19, 1924 – January 30, 2014). He & his friend, fellow director and producer, Jules Bass (September 16, 1935 – October 25, 2022) created Rankin/Bass Productions which not only brought Rudolph’s story to life but many others as well including “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”, “Frosty the Snowman” and “The Little Drummer Boy”.

rankin bass logo
rankin bass men

Top: The Rankin/Bass logo. Bottom: The men behind the production team: Arthur Rankin Jr. (L) and Jules Bass (R) circa 1964. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Marks was brought in to write additional songs for the Rudolph special including two sung by Burl Ives, the voice behind the dapper Sam The Snowman narrator of the TV story. It centered around the reindeer who “had a very shiny nose” which did not fit in with the mainstream crowd, so he ran away. Eventually he found others who felt as different as he including Hermey, the elf who dreamed of being a dentist; arctic prospector Yukon Cornelius & his team of five dogs; Bumble, The Abominable Snow Monster of the North and an entire island of misfit toys. By the show’s end, Rudolph returned home to show that despite being different, he not only found his people but was vital to helping Santa guide his sleigh on Christmas Eve during a terrible snow storm.

Sixty years later, Rudolph’s story & song remain as beloved as ever by “misfits” everywhere.

Ives and Marks 2
Rudolph and Santa
Rudolph and Clairice
Sam the snowman
rudolph corneliuos toys
Abominable
Rudolph group shot

Seven iconic moments related to the 1964 TV special: 1. Burl Ives (L) and songwriter Johnny Marks (R) – along with figurines of Sam The Snowman and Rudolph – circa 1964. 2. Santa and Rudolph. 3. Rudolph and his crush, Clarice. 4. Ives’ Christmas alter ego, Sam The Snowman. 5. Yukon Cornelius and Hermey find the misfit toys on their island. 6. Cornelius encounters Bumble, a/k/a The Abominable Snowman. 7. The gang at the end after Rudolph’s triumphant return home. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Gene Autry: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949, written by Johnny Marks).

Burl Ives: “Silver and Gold” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

Burl Ives: “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 17

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 17

An adorable rustic Christmas tree with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments featured in Country Home Magazine.  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

For someone who has loved-worshipped, actually-music her whole life, I had no idea until this year that classic Christmas songs could chart in the Billboard Hot 100. I do not know why I did not realize it, as many old songs have made the charts again when their songs were introduced to a new crowd by way of a TV show or movie (like Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” after it was featured in the 1986 movie of the same name). I always thought holiday songs had their own chart (which they do). 

The #1 song in the country right now on both charts is Brenda Lee’s “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree“, which was recorded in 1958. It got a boost when the 79 year old singer introduced a video for the song last month in honor of the 65th anniversary of its release (she is now the oldest artist to have a top-selling record).

There are five more holiday songs currently in the Top Ten, including today’s first pick which is #6. It is from the iconic Rankin-Bass TV special, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Every song on that 1964 soundtrack was written by Johnny Marks, the same man who wrote Lee’s tune. What an incredible legacy to have such a hold on the holiday. 

The two songs from the “Rudolph” soundtrack which have been my favorites forever were both sung by the wise dapper snowman, Sam. Voiced by the Burl Ives, I wait for the first of today’s songs to consider it to be the official start of the Christmas season (along with Bruce’s take on another TV special song). The second of Sam’s songs is a bonus in a very big way. Watching the nearly 60 year old special & singing along to the same songs I sang along with as a child is both a comfort and bittersweet memory of a time when all was right in my world.

Ives and Marks 2
sam the snowman

Top: Burl Ives (L) and songwriter Johnny Marks (R) circa 1964. Bottom: Ives’ Christmas alter ego, Sam The Snowman. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Burl Ives: ”Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks). 

Burl Ives: ”Silver and Gold” (1964, written by Johnny Marks). 

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 1

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Happy December, everybody!!!

december images

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

We have officially arrived at the Christmas season so what better way to celebrate this festive time of year than with a daily countdown of great holiday songs to usher in the big day. All are welcome even if you are not a fan of this genre or you do not observe the holiday. Great music of any kind should be enjoyed by all.

We begin with a song by one of the pioneers of rock & roll, Mr. Johnny B. Goode himself. Chuck Berry wrote & recorded today’s song in 1958. Unbeknownst to him, songwriter Johnny Marks held the trademark on the character featured in Berry’s track because of the song Marks wrote with Marvin Brodie, which was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949.

Consequently, both Marks and Brodie were legally given songwriting credit for Berry’s song. But his record is the polar opposite of a children’s Christmas carol-it is a straight up rocking holiday classic perfect for the festive season. It has been covered by a slew of different artists over the last 65 years including Keith Richards, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Joe Perry which are all exemplary. So is the cover by Chris Isaak recorded for his 2022 album, Everybody Knows It’s Christmas.

Chuck
1-chris-isaak-1200x800

Top: Chuck Berry circa 1962. Bottom: Chris Isaak circa 2010. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Chuck Berry: “Run Rudolph Run” (1958, written by Chuck Berry, Marvin Brodie and Johnny Marks).

Chris Isaak: “Run Rudolph Run” (2022, written by Chuck Berry, Marvin Brodie and Johnny Marks).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2022: Day 19

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 19 2022

A sweet vintage Christmas card image found on Pinterest. (Original source unknown.)

Today’s track is from the 1964 beloved timeless TV special, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”. While the title character is the star of the show and completely adorable, the one narrating the story is who I adore most. He is wise, eloquent, kind & musical. All the traits I admire in someone-or in this case, something. His performances are the highlight of the show for me every year.

“Rudolph” was one of several holiday specials from the production team of Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment which formed in 1960 and operated until 1987. They also gave us “The Little Drummer Boy” in 1968, “Frosty The Snowman” in 1969 and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” in 1970. Arthur Rankin Jr.  died in 2014 at the age of 89 and Jules Bass died this past October at age 87.

Both men are ingrained in Christmas & pop culture history. They are beloved by anyone who watched or continues to watch their specials each and every year. Those yearly broadcasts continue to “make the season bright” for anyone who calls December “the most wonderful time of the year”.

Thank you, Mr. Rankin Jr. and Mr. Bass.

“Have a holly jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
Now I don’t know if there’ll be snow
But have a cup of cheer“.

Sam Snowman

Top: Arthur Rankin Jr. (L) and Jules Bass (R) circa 1969. Bottom: The dapper & loveable Sam The Snowman from 1964’s “Rudolph” special. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Burl Ives: ““Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2021: Day 13

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

day 13

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It just would not be Christmas without watching “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”. I enjoy all the music but the songs by the jovial singing snowman are my favorites.

burl

Burl Ives and his counterpart, Sam The Snowman, circa 1964. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Burl Ives: “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Let’s Take A Moment Day 262

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

snowman 2

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Three days into December brings us to the first holiday song of the year, especially since today is the 56th anniversary of a seasonal staple. On December 3, 1964 CBS debuted the animated TV special, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”, and it became a cherished & permanent part of the Christmas season to this day.

I grew up watching it like the majority of the population. But I saw this perennial favorite in a completely different light when I watched it with my dorm mates my freshman year of college. The other girls & I were talking about it during dinner at our hall cafeteria and asked our male counterparts to join us. That invitation led to screams of laughter at the idea that they would ever spend an evening watching a story about a reindeer with a shiny nose. But five minutes after the show started, the guys appeared. The other girls surmised that it was because they missed us. I wish it was that simple. The guys were a perfect audience until Rudolph met Clarice. Then their true purpose for being there emerged.

They made up their own dialogue so Clarice sounded like a cheap hooker (i.e., “Hey baby, let me make something else light up for you”, “Do you want to see what part of me gets red, too?”) while Rudolph outlined explicit ideas of what type of reindeer games he really wanted to play with the pretty doe (I will spare you those details & leave you to use your own imagination). I guess I should have been appalled that the guys turned a show about a treasured Christmas icon into a Penthouse letter. However, I must admit it was hilarious. Of course, after that night, this TV special never looked quite the same to me again. But I still watch it every holiday season and love all the music in it, especially today’s song.

“Oh, ho the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me“.

Rudolph and Clarice

The not so innocent couple, Rudolph (L) and Clarice )R). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Burl Ives: “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 17

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Welcome back to the countdown!!!

A Christmas tree by a decorated mantel and a roaring fire…….does it get more cozy than that???

day 17

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).  

Today’s song has been a favorite of mine since the first time I watched “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”.  Who would not love a festive holiday tune sung by a cuddly adorable and very dapper snowman???

I always loved the line “say hello to friends you know” best.  It was just so cordial and lighthearted.  However, since the fall of 1997, whenever I hear that line, especially the word “hello”, I cannot help but get hysterical with laughter.  That is because all I can think of is how Jerry, George, Kramer & Elaine greeted each other with that word in a “funny booming jovial” hilariously boisterous voice supposedly belonging to Jerry’s girlfriend Clare’s stomach (using the belly button as a mouth, of course)  in the Seinfeld episode, “The Voice“.  If you are a fellow Seinfeld fan, you have just done the proverbial laugh out loud remembering that episode.  If you are one of the three people who was not a fan of the show, here’s a clip to bring you up to speed.  Only Jerry & Company could take a word like “hello” and turn it into a pop culture moment.

tenor

Seinfeld’s “Helllloooo” 

Burl Ives, both circa 1964 (original sources unknown).

Burl Ives:  “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks in 1962).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 3

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Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Here’s another classic 1950’s Christmas card image I found on Pinterest.  So charming & festive!!!

day 3

Found on Pinterest by way of  Zazzle.ca (original source unknown).

Today’s song is by an American band formed in 1967 that went on to become one of the best selling groups of all time.  Known for their ballads, their rock songs and everything in between, their music is a combination of jazz, R&B, pop and classical.  All this and a horn section, too.  What more could a band need?  Oh, right, great songwriters and incredibly talented vocalists.  Check and check.

They released a Christmas album in 1998 (produced by E Street Band member Roy Bittan) which was reissued in 2003 with six extra songs including this classic.  For some people, there will never be a better version than Gene Autry’s or the one from the TV special as sung by Burl Ives,.  But I think today’s pick is a really good one.  Let’s call it the grown-up version of a childhood favorite.

Chicago

Chicago:  “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” (2003, written by Johnny Marks in 1939).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!