Walter Marks

Walter Marks is a songwriter, playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. He is probably best known for his song “I’ve Gotta be Me”, recorded by Sammy Davis, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson and many others. He has also written songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, The Temptations, Della Reese, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, and other artists. He wrote the songs for the Broadway musicals “Bajour” and “Golden Rainbow”, the book, music and lyrics for the off-Broadway musical “Body Shop”, the screenplay and songs for the motion picture “The Wild Party”. He also wrote the off-Broadway comedy-mystery “The Butler Did It”. On television, he won an Emmy award for his music on the PBS Series “Getting On”, and wrote songs for the ABC series “That’s Life”, and the NBC Hallmark Hall of Fame production of “Pinocchio”. His musical “Langston in Harlem” was produced in NYC at Urban Stages in April ’10. The show won 4 Audelco/Vivian Robinson Awards for Excellence in Black Theater, including best musical.