Herbie Marks was an Australian accordion player and band leader.. He also played piano occasionally. Herbie Marks was born in Rooty Hill, Sydney in 1923, NSW. Coming from a show business family, by the time he was six years of age, he was playing mandolin for Harry Clay's Vaudeville in Sydney. Having taught himself to play the accordion at the age of nine, he took lessons from an American called Arbie Hartmann. Marks became a teacher of the accordion at the age of 14. After studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music he consolidated his brilliant technique in a tremendous variety of engagements playing on top radio shows, touring on the Australian Tivoli Circuit and leading his own group in Sydney night clubs. In 1951 he travelled to Europe, appearing with great success in England and on the continent and giving many recitals for the BBC and on French television. He would return again in 1961.
Progressing through his career, and in addition to being an accordion player and master of the instrument, he was a talented showman and magician. He was a music arranger and also composed music for films (The Australians: The Second Assault (1966), Toehold in History (1965) and My Brother Jack (1965) and commercials. He was first heard on record in the early 1950s via the Columbia label then with Regal Zonophone followed by Philips. Some of his recordings were released in France, NZ and the UK. He then signed on with the Festival label in the early 60s and stayed with them until his recording career finished in the mid 1970s. He also led The Herbie Marks Trio with Innocent Marknick on trumpet and bass and Dick Carr on guitar who together recorded a number of albums. He died on December 5, 1980.
''St. Louis Blues / Stardust'' 1951 Columbia
''Herbie Marks Medley No. 2 / Herbie Marks Medley No. 2'' 1952 Columbia
''Herbie Marks Old Time Medley No. 1 / Herbie Marks Old Time Medley No. 1'' 1952 Columbia
''Between Two Trees / You Rule My Heart'' [with Lily Conners] 1952 Regal Zonophone
''Dearly Beloved / You Made Me Love You'' 1955 Philips
''The Fall Of The Roman Empire / Fur Elise'' 1964 Leedon
''Mame / Oliver'' 1969 Festival
''Herbie's Boogie / Last Tango In Paris'' 1973 Festival
''Here Come D' Boogie Man / Slow-Movin' Man'' 1975 Festival
EPs
'Medley Time With Herbie Marks No. 3' 1955 Philips
ALBUMS
'Music For Romance' 1954 Philips
'Love From Rome' 1966 Festival
'Music For You Simcha' 1966 Festival
'Plays Dominique And Other Continental Favourite' 1967 Festival Records
'The Bells Of St.Marys' [the Herbie Marks Trio]1967 Festival
'Broadway Hits' [the Herbie Marks Trio] 1968 Festival
'The Magic Accordion Of Herbie Marks' 1968 Music For Pleasure
'An Enchanted Evening With Herbie Marks' 1969 Festival
'Herbie Goes Hawaiian' [the Herbie Marks Trio] 1969 Festival
'Theme From The Last Tango In Paris' [the Herbie Marks Trio] 1973 Calendar Records
'Man Of La Mancha & Other Great Show Tunes' 1973 Calendar Records
'Fly Me To The Moon' 1974 Calendar Records
'Fiddler On The Roof' 1974 Calendar Records
'Here Come D'boogie Man' 1975 Festival Records
'The Spirit O' Scotland' 1976 Festival
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