His next most memorable effort was “Is It True What They Say About Dixie?” written with Irving Caesar and Sammy Lerner, which made Your Hit Parade in 1936 and was a favorite vehicle for Al Jolson. That same year, with Caesar, he also wrote a song for Shirley Temple, “That’s What I Want for Christmas,” which she sang in the film Stowaway.

During the ‘30s Marks wrote the music for Caesar’s 22-song series for children, intended as teaching aids—“Sing a Song of Safety,” “Songs of Health,” and “Sing a Song of Friendship.” Caesar had been inspired by the efforts of the League of Nations and felt a need to promote tolerance and unity. His offer of the materials to the federal government was turned down, but they were later published by the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith.

Marks enjoyed a long life and in his later years served on the board of the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and lectured on his experiences as a songwriter during the heyday of Tin Pan Alley.

- Sandra Burlingame