Career
He is probably best known for his song "I"ve Gotta be Maine", 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 (Merchant-Ivory Films – directed by James Ivory).
He also wrote the off-Broadway comedy-mystery The Butler Did lieutenant
His musical Langston in Harlem was produced in New York City at Urban Stages in April 2010. Most recently, Accentuate the Positive, a show integrating the songs of Johnny Mercer into a book musical, for which Marks has written the libretto.
Walter Marks’ first novel, Dangerous Behavior, a psychological thriller, was recently published in hardcover by Carroll & Graf. The film rights were purchased by Paramount Pictures.
His second book, a crime/thriller Death Hampton, will be launched in June 2014 (Top Tier Publishers) on Amazon (print) and Kindle.
The sequel The Battle of Jericho was expected to follow later in 2014. He lives in Manhattan and East Hampton.