Mark Barkan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Barkan
|
|
|---|---|
Barkan in 2008
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Marcus Barkan |
| Born | July 4, 1934 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 8, 2020 (aged 85) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations | Songwriter, record producer |
Marcus Barkan (born July 4, 1934 – died May 8, 2020) was an American songwriter and record producer. He helped create music for many artists. He was also the musical director for a fun TV show called The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. This show was on NBC from 1968 to 1970.
Contents
Mark Barkan's Early Life and Career
Marcus Barkan was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He began his music career as a writer. He worked in a famous place called the Brill Building. This building in New York City was known for many songwriters and music businesses.
His first big success as a writer was in 1961. He co-wrote a song called "The Writing on the Wall". This song became a top 5 hit for Adam Wade.
Hit Songs and Collaborations
Mark Barkan wrote many popular songs. In 1963, he co-wrote "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter" for Connie Francis. He also helped write "She's a Fool" for Lesley Gore, which was a Top 5 hit.
One of his most famous songs is "Pretty Flamingo". This song was a big hit for the band Manfred Mann in 1966. He also co-wrote "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" from The Banana Splits TV show.
Producing Music and TV Shows
In 1966, Barkan produced an album called Psychedelic Moods. This album by The Deep was special. It was one of the first albums to have the word "psychedelic" in its title.
Barkan also wrote songs for many other artists. He worked with "cult" bands, which are bands with a small but very dedicated fan base. He often worked with Ritchie Adams. Together, they wrote songs for popular groups like The Archies and The Monkees.
The Banana Splits and Toomorrow
The team of Barkan and Adams was very important for The Banana Splits project. They wrote and produced all the songs for the show.
They also worked on a 1970 sci-fi musical film called Toomorrow. This movie was produced by Don Kirshner. It starred a young Olivia Newton-John as a band member.
Later Years and Legacy
Later in his life, Mark Barkan worked with Albert Bouchard. Albert Bouchard was a member of the band Blue Öyster Cult. They collaborated on an album released in 2018 called Fidelis ad Mortem.
Mark Barkan passed away at his home in New York City on May 8, 2020. He was 85 years old. His daughter, Bridget Barkan, is an actress.
