- published: 23 Jul 2012
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Van Dyke Parks (born January 3, 1943) is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile.
Parks has worked with such notable performers as Phil Ochs, Grace Kelly, Delaney Bramlett, The Byrds, Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Silverchair, Ry Cooder, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr.
In addition to producing, Parks has released six studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove.
Born in 1943 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and reared in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Parks attended the American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey. He began his career as a child actor. Between 1953 and 1958 he worked steadily in films and television, including the 1956 movie The Swan (which starred Grace Kelly). He appeared as Ezio Pinza's son Andrew Bonino on the NBC television show Bonino.[citation needed] One of his costars on Bonino was 14-year-old Chet Allen, who appeared as Jerry Bonino. Parks and Allen were roommates at the Boychoir School. Parks also had a recurring role as Little Tommy Manacotti (the kid from upstairs) on Jackie Gleason's The Honeymooners.
Van Dyke Parks - Song Cycle (1968)
Van Dyke Parks - Beach Boys collaborator (RBMA New York 2013 Lecture)
Van Dyke Parks - Discover America [Full Album]
Van Dyke Parks Rare Live Concert 1992
Van Dyke Parks Discusses Working With Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks talk about SMILE
Van Dyke Parks- Jump! (1983)
Van Dyke Parks "The All Golden" on WNYC's Spinning On Air
Van Dyke Parks - Come to the Sunshine
Van Dyke Parks "Heroes and Villains" on WNYC's Spinning On Air
Van Dyke Parks-Palm Desert (1968) HD
Van Dyke Parks on the Beatles
There's music in the streets
There's music everywhere
A little old soul beat
There's dancing everywhere
I would tell the whole world
Tell them if I could
To add a little song into each life
It's finger snappin good
Pardon me, but you could use it
We're goin to make a little music
You got soul now don't you lose it
We're goin to make a little music
Everything's going to be mellow
People just a singin occapella
People just a singin occapella
There's music in the street
There's muisc in the air
A little old soul beat
There's dancin everywhere
I would tell the whole world
Tell them if I could
To add a little song into each life