Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke Parks
Parks in late 1967
Background information
Birth name	Van Dyke Parks
Born	(1943-01-03) January 3, 1943 (age 74) Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Origin	Los Angeles, California
Genres	Americana art pop orchestral pop worldbeat baroque pop experimental pop
Occupation(s)	Composer songwriter arranger performer record producer director actor
Instruments	Keyboards harpsichord organ piano synthesizer accordion clarinet guitar bass cello vocals
Years active	1953–present
Labels	MGM Warner Bros. Bananastan Bella Union
Associated acts	The Beach Boys The Gentle Soul Ry Cooder The Esso Trinidad Steel Band The Greenwood County Singers Inara George Lowell George Haruomi Hosono Little Feat Mighty Sparrow The Mothers of Invention Randy Newman Harry Nilsson The Steeltown Two Brian Wilson
Website	bananastan.com
Notable instruments
Moog modular synthesizer

Van Dyke Parks (born January 3, 1943) is an American composer, arranger, record producer, instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, author, and actor. He is known for his collaborations with the musician Brian Wilson and for his contributions as lyricist for the Beach Boys' Smile project. Besides numerous collaborations with the Beach Boys, he has worked with such performers as Phil Ochs, Donovan, Haruomi Hosono, the Byrds, Tim Buckley, Arlo Guthrie, Little Feat, Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus Wainwright, U2, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Joanna Newsom, Grizzly Bear, Inara George, Silverchair, Kimbra, and Ringo Starr.

In addition to producing records by other artists, Parks has released several studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Orange Crate Art, Songs Cycled, and one live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. He has also established himself in motion pictures and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of theatrical films and television shows. On occasion, he has taken small acting roles.