who wrote song rudolph the red nosed reindeer

The song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was written by the American songwriter and radio personality Johnny Marks. He was inspired by a poem written by his brother-in-law, Robert L. May, and wanted to create a musical version of it. The song was first performed on radio in 1939 and has since become a beloved holiday classic. It has been covered by many artists over the years, including Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, and The Muppets.