Mark Barkan

Mark Barkan
Barkan in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Marcus Barkan
Born	(1934-07-04)July 4, 1934 Brooklyn,New York, U.S.
Died	May 8, 2020(2020-05-08)(aged 85) New York City, U.S.
Occupations	Songwriter,record producer

Marcus Barkan(July 4, 1934 – May 8, 2020) was an Americansongwriterandrecord producer.He was also amusical directorfor the television showThe Banana Splits Adventure Hour,which aired between September 7, 1968, and September 5, 1970, lasting two seasons, onNBC.

Biography

Barkan was born inBrooklyn,New York City,and started his career as a writer in theBrill Building.His first major success as a writer was with "The Writing on the Wall",a 1961 US top 5 hit forAdam Wadewhich he co-wrote withSandy BaronandGeorge Paxton(credited as George Eddy).He had further success with "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter"(co-written with Hank Hunter), which was a hit forConnie Francisin 1963;Lesley Gore's Top 5 hit "She's a Fool"(co-written withBen Raleigh);the often-covered "Pretty Flamingo",which was a hit single forManfred Mannin 1966;and "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)"fromThe Banana Splits(co-written withRitchie Adams).

In 1966, Barkan was responsible for producing the albumPsychedelic Moods,byThe Deep,which has been credited as the first album to have the wordpsychedelicin the title.Barkan also wrote songs for many other artists, and was involved in "cult" bands as well. He and Ritchie Adams co-wrote songs forThe Archies,The Monkees,and for many other recording artists in the late 1960s. The team of Barkan and Adams was instrumental on theBanana Splitsproject, and they also wrote and produced all the songs forToomorrow,a 1970sci-fimusical,produced byDon Kirshner,which starredOlivia Newton-Johnas a band member.

In later life, he collaborated withAlbert Bouchard,formerly ofBlue Öyster Cult,on the 2018 albumFidelis ad Mortem.

Barkan died at his home inNew York Cityon May 8, 2020, at age 85.

External links

• Interview with Mark Barkan,Millennial Throwback Machine,November 24, 2019