Van Dyke Parks
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).
Biography from the Wikipedia article Van Dyke Parks. Licensed under CC-BY-SA. Full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Part of Crew
Recently Updated Shows
Love Island
On Love Island the Islanders must do their best to flirt, date, couple up in a bid to avoid being ‘dumped' from the Island. With new arrivals, heads may turn, while others will prove their true feelings. From romance and heart-to-hearts, to betrayal, bombshells and broken hearts, there's never a dull moment in the ultimate search for love. More texts, fire pit gatherings and challenges await the lovestruck Islanders, meaning there'll be plenty for them to dish the dirt on in the Beach Hut. Twists and turns will follow every step of the way, with shock recouplings, unexpected breakups and dramatic dumpings.
As the couples attempt to win the hearts of each other – and the public – one couple will ultimately triumph and be crowned Love Island winners
Kitchen Nightmares
Chef Gordon Ramsay of Hell's Kitchen fame is back, and this time he's hitting the road, exposing restaurants that are barely staying afloat.
Whitstable Pearl
With her son grown, single mum Pearl, pursues her lifelong dream and starts a private detective agency, which she runs from her family restaurant in the coastal town of Whitstable. Drawn by her caring nature, locals soon flock to her with all kinds of cases. But when a friend dies suspiciously, Pearl finds herself in conflict with gruff new cop in town DCI Mike McGuire.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
With roadside diners, vintage drive-ins and out-of-the-way "dives" enjoying a resurgence of hipness among foodies, host Guy Fieri travels across America in search of some of the best "greasy spoon" eateries. The restaurants that Guy visits are usually well-known among locals and other people in the region. While at each location, Fieri talks to the staff as well as the customers to get their thoughts on the food. Many episodes feature eateries that are connected by a common thread, such as burgers or comfort foods but its all here on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.