Sol Marcus

Sol Marcus (October 1, 1912 – February 5, 1976) was an American songwriter and pianist.

Born in New York, he began working as a songwriter with Bennie Benjamin and Eddie Seiler (1911–1952) in the mid-1930s. He had his first writing successes with "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" (1941), co-written with Benjamin, Seiler, and Eddie Durham, and "When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World)" (1942), co-written with Benjamin and Seiler. Later in the 1940s, he had further success with "Till Then" (1945), a hit for the Mills Brothers co-written with Seiler and Guy Wood; and "Ask Anyone Who Knows", written with Seiler and Al Kaufman for The Ink Spots.

He re-established a writing partnership with Bennie Benjamin in the mid-1950s. They wrote "Fabulous Character" for Sarah Vaughan, and "Lonely Man" for Elvis Presley. In 1964, Marcus and Benjamin wrote "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" with Horace Ott, whose songwriting credit was taken by his wife Gloria Caldwell because Ott, as a BMI member, was not permitted to work with ASCAP members such as Marcus and Benjamin. The song was first recorded by Nina Simone, and was later a hit for The Animals, Santa Esmeralda, and Elvis Costello.

Marcus died in 1976 in Linden, New Jersey.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 1, 1912 (New York City), Died February 5, 1976 (Linden)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, lyricist, 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 Audio
Victor BS-040688 10-in. 8/28/1939 You're gonna fall and break your heart Carl Lorch Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-047796 10-in. 3/11/1940 I don't want to set the world on fire Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Myra Taylor Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-051262 10-in. 6/10/1940 Ashes in the tray Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-053209 10-in. 7/15/1940 My pop gave me a nickel Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Myra Taylor Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-064807 10-in. 8/25/1941 I don't want to set the world on fire Skinnay Ennis Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-064975 10-in. 10/10/1941 I don't want to set the world on fire Cats and the Fiddle Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental quartet lyricist  
Victor BS-067670 10-in. 8/25/1941 I don't want to set the world on fire Mitchell Ayres ; Meredith Blake ; Fashions-in-Music ; Four Trumpet-Ayres Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal quartet lyricist  
Victor BS-067753 10-in. 9/5/1941 I don't want to set the world on fire Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor BS-068445 10-in. 11/28/1941 Cancel the flowers Mitchell Ayres ; Warren Covington ; Fashions-in-Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-071405 10-in. 9/25/1941 The clock is fast Bob Chester Orchestra ; Betty Bradley Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-071764 10-in. 2/2/1942 I don't want to set the world on fire Hit Paraders ; Mark Warnow Orchestra ; Barry Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-074380 10-in. 5/27/1942 Strictly instrumental Bob Chester Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-074789 10-in. 7/29/1942 When the lights go on again (All over the world) New Music [Shep Fields] ; Ralph Young Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-075421 10-in. 7/8/1942 When the lights go on again (All over the world) Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-075440 10-in. 7/22/1942 When the lights go on again (All over the world) Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D5VB-0592 10-in. 9/5/1945 Fishin' for the moon Norton Sisters ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal group and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D6VB-2018 10-in. 2/6/1946 Ah dee ah dee ah John Ryan ; Sportsmen Quartet Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D6VB-2879 10-in. 9/25/1946 And then it's heaven Don Cornell ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-0460 10-in. 2/13/1947 You can't hide your heart behind a kiss Moon Maids ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-0657 10-in. 3/17/1947 Ask anyone who knows Don Cornell ; Sammy Kaye Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-0946 10-in. 6/4/1947 How many kisses (does it take to make you fall in love with me) Pat Flowers ; Rhythm (Pat Flowers) Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D8VB-4075 10-in. 12/15/1948 Don't lie to me (I may believe you) Moon Maids ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal group and instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor D9VB-0540 10-in. 2/28/1949 Because you love me Charles Dant ; Dennis Day ; The Rhythmaires Male vocal solo, with vocal group and instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Columbia H522 10-in. 9/26/1941 I don't want to set the world on fire Gene Autry Male vocal solo, with string band songwriter  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Marcus, Sol," accessed March 27, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206243.

Marcus, Sol. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206243.

"Marcus, Sol." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 27 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206243

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