Sol Marcus

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

Born in New York City, 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 New York City (most populous city in the United States), Died February 5, 1976 (Linden (city in Union County, New Jersey, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1955

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 (Results 26-30 of 30 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-2762 10-in. 12/28/1947 To remind me of you Charles Dant Orchestra ; Dennis Day Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet instrumental ensemble 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  
Victor D9VB-1629 10-in. 6/13/1949 The girl from Jones Beach Johnny Bradford ; Henri René Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus 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  
(Results 26-30 of 30 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Marcus, Sol," accessed January 8, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206243.

Marcus, Sol. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 8, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/206243.

"Marcus, Sol." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 8 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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