Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks (born January 3, 1943) is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, record producer, singer, and former Warner Bros. Records executive whose work encompasses orchestral pop, elaborate recording experiments, Americana iconography, free-associative lyrics, and Caribbean sounds. He is best known for his 1967 album Song Cycle and his collaborative work with acts such as the Beach Boys, Lowell George, and Harry Nilsson, as well as various film and television scores. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Parks studied voice and piano at the American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey, touring nationally with the choir during his youth. He concurrently pursued child acting roles in television and theater productions. After relocating to California in 1963, he performed folk music with his brother Carson along the West Coast and contributed arrangements to Disney film soundtracks, including "The Bare Necessities" for The Jungle Book (1967). Following two singles issued on MGM Records—"Come to the Sunshine" (1966) and a folk rock adaptation of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony—he became an active session musician in Laurel Canyon, working with artists such as Tim Buckley, Judy Collins, and the Byrds before collaborating with Brian Wilson on the Beach Boys' Smile, later completed in 2004 as Wilson's solo album. In 1966, Parks joined Warner Bros. through producer Lenny Waronker, with whom he collaborated on numerous albums—including those by Harpers Bizarre, Randy Newman, Arlo Guthrie, and Ry Cooder—and formed part of a creative circle at the label. One of the most expensive LPs ever produced at the time, Song Cycle achieved critical acclaim and influenced the 1970s singer-songwriter movement despite poor sales. He transitioned to an executive role at Warner Bros., where he facilitated label signings—including the Beach Boys, Little Feat, Peter Ivers, and Beaver & Krause—and spearheaded the first ever label division centered on promotional films for artists; his concepts later became foundational to MTV. Influenced by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, Parks deepened his engagement with Caribbean musical traditions, promoting Trinidadian calypso and steel pan music through projects such as his album Discover America (1971), productions for Mighty Sparrow and the Esso Trinidad Steel Band, and Nilsson's mid-1970s recordings. After the late 1970s, Parks focused on composing for film and television, contributing to works including Popeye (with Nilsson, 1980), Follow That Bird (1985), and The Brave Little Toaster (1987). He authored a trilogy of children's books based on his 1984 album Jump!, a musical adaptation of Br'er Rabbit folktales. He has remained active as a collaborator and arranger, working with artists such as Haruomi Hosono, Rufus Wainwright, Silverchair, and Joanna Newsom, while releasing three additional studio albums: Tokyo Rose (1989), Orange Crate Art (with Wilson, 1995), and Songs Cycled (2013).
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Van Dyke Parks", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
References
Title | Summary | |
---|---|---|
Colin Richardson's 1978 Interview with Harry Nilsson | ... Danny 'Kootch,' Dr. John and Van Dyke Parks . The most ... | |
Album Reviews: Harry | ... musician. Like Randy Newman , Van Dyke Parks and a few ... | |
Interview with the Author of Harry & Me | ... maybe even Micky Dolenz or Van Dyke Parks . I recently ... | |
...That's the Way It Is [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
Popeye | ... ("Hoagy, the Piano Player"): Van Dyke Parks | Cast ... | |
Popeye | ... Doug Dillard , Harry Nilsson, Van Dyke Parks , Klaus ... | |
Harry Nilsson Documentary in Production | ... Newman , Yoko Ono , May Pang , Van Dyke Parks , Richard ... | |
Swee' Pea's Lullaby | ... Lullaby" from Popeye | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
Flash Harry {Reissue} [2013] | ... Tony Martin Jr. | Musician: Van Dyke Parks | Piano: ... | |
Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) | ... Robin Williams , Yoko Ono , Van Dyke Parks , Randy ... | |
Flash Harry [1980] | ... Tony Martin Jr. | Musician: Van Dyke Parks | Piano: ... | |
Harry Nilsson | ... made it beautiful that way. -- Van Dyke Parks (2013) ... | |
Duit on Mon Dei {1981 Japanese CD Reissue} [1981] | ... | Piano: Jane Getz | Piano: Van Dyke Parks | Saxophone: ... | |
Harry Nilsson's Funeral | ... Henry Gibson , Micky Dolenz , Van Dyke Parks , and Jim ... | |
Stop and Take the Time to Smell the Roses | ... December 14, 1980. | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | Banjo: ... | |
Popeye [1980] | ... arranged and conducted by Van Dyke Parks . The basic ... | |
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah | ... Hal Willner | Producer: Van Dyke Parks | Publisher: ... | |
Sandman {Stereophonic LP} [1976] | ... Leon Russell | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | Percussion: ... | |
When You Wish Upon a Star | ... Hal Willner | Producer: Van Dyke Parks | Publisher: ... | |
Best Move | ... Harry Nilsson | Songwriter: Van Dyke Parks | S ... | |
Duit on Mon Dei {2002 Japanese CD Reissue} [2002] | ... | Piano: Jane Getz | Piano: Van Dyke Parks | Saxophone: ... | |
Duit on Mon Dei {Quad 8-track} [1975] | ... | Piano: Jane Getz | Piano: Van Dyke Parks | Saxophone: ... | |
Duit on Mon Dei {Stereophonic LP} [1975] | ... | Piano: Jane Getz | Piano: Van Dyke Parks | Saxophone: ... | |
Duit on Mon Dei {Quad LP} [1975] | ... | Piano: Jane Getz | Piano: Van Dyke Parks | Saxophone: ... | |
Shango Man | ... sessions with lead vocals by Van Dyke Parks . | ... | |
Back Off Boogaloo | ... by Ringo Starr | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | Backing ... | |
Duit on Mon Dei / Sandman [2002] | ... interviewed Perry Botkin and Van Dyke Parks for the ... | |
I'm Popeye the Sailor Man | ... by Robin Williams | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
It's Not Easy Being Me | ... Paul L. Smith ). | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | Producer: ... | |
Never My Love: The Lost Album Sessions [2001] | ... vocals by Harry Nilsson and Van Dyke Parks . In a ... | |
Songwriters on Songwriting: The Expanded Version | ... many songwriters including Van Dyke Parks , Randy ... | |
The Falcons | ... Nilsson Ray Cooper Doug Dillard Van Dyke Parks Klaus ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Japan, CD, Paper Sleeve} [2007] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Japan, CD, Remastered} [2002] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Japan, CD} [1995] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Saudi Arabia, Cassette} [1978] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Spain, LP, Non-Gatefold} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Spain, LP, Promotional} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Japan, LP, Promotional} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Australia, LP} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Canada, LP} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {UK, LP(2)} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {UK, LP} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Japan, LP} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {Germany, LP} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {UK, Cassette} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {US, 8-track} [1976] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
...That's the Way It Is {US, Cassette} [2002] | ... Keyboards: Jane Getz | Keyboards: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
I Yam What I Yam | ... the film Popeye . | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
Popeye Cues | ... score for Popeye . | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | ... | |
Kids | | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | Producer: Harry Nilsson | ... | |
I'm Mean | | Arranger: Van Dyke Parks | Producer: Harry Nilsson | ... | |
Cheek to Cheek | ... Lowell George | Songwriter: Van Dyke Parks | S ... |
Connection Chains
- From Van Dyke Parks to Jim Gordon in 16 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Gregory Carroll in 15 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Harry Shlutz in 15 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Personal Best - The Harry Nilsson Anthology in 15 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Recording Artists, Actors, and Athletes Against Drunk Driving in 15 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Robert Sherman in 15 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Shrink Rap in 15 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Stop and Take the Time to Smell the Roses in 15 Steps
- From Please Mr. Music Man to Van Dyke Parks in 15 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Always in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Harry Shearer in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to June Knight in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Kirby Johnson in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Mickey Dolenz in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Ron Sexsmith in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to So Help Me Todd in 14 Steps
- From Jim Keltner to Van Dyke Parks in 14 Steps
- From Harry Nilsson to Van Dyke Parks in 14 Steps
- From Trevor Lawrence to Van Dyke Parks in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Walter Donaldson in 14 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to America in 13 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Black Sails In The Moonlight in 13 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Florence Ballard in 13 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Fred Tackett in 13 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Harry Shearer in 13 Steps
- From Van Dyke Parks to Open Your Window in 13 Steps
Connections
- ...That's the Way It Is includes keyboards played by Van Dyke Parks
- Back Off Boogaloo was arranged by Van Dyke Parks
- Duit on Mon Dei includes piano played by Van Dyke Parks
- I Yam What I Yam was arranged by Van Dyke Parks
- I'm Popeye the Sailor Man was arranged by Van Dyke Parks
- January 3 is the birthday of Van Dyke Parks
- Popeye features an appearance by Van Dyke Parks
- Shango Man was sung by Van Dyke Parks
- Stop and Take the Time to Smell the Roses was arranged by Van Dyke Parks
- Swee' Pea's Lullaby was arranged by Van Dyke Parks
- Van Dyke Parks played keyboards for ...That's the Way It Is
- Van Dyke Parks arranged Back Off Boogaloo
- Van Dyke Parks played piano for Duit on Mon Dei
- Van Dyke Parks attended the funeral of Harry Nilsson
- Van Dyke Parks arranged I Yam What I Yam
- Van Dyke Parks arranged I'm Popeye the Sailor Man
- Van Dyke Parks was born on January 3
- Van Dyke Parks appears in Popeye
- Van Dyke Parks sang Shango Man
- Van Dyke Parks arranged Stop and Take the Time to Smell the Roses
- Van Dyke Parks arranged Swee' Pea's Lullaby
- Van Dyke Parks was a member of The Greenwood County Singers
- Van Dyke Parks appears in The Two Jakes
- Van Dyke Parks produced When You Wish Upon a Star
- Van Dyke Parks produced Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
- When You Wish Upon a Star was produced by Van Dyke Parks
- Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah was produced by Van Dyke Parks