08/03/16 Dean Parks – Session Guitarist with Steely Dan and Michael Jackson

Vinyl Night

Weldon Dean Parks is an American session guitarist and record producer from Ft. Worth, Texas.
Parks was member of The North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band before moving to Los Angeles to work with Sonny and Cher in 1970. In 1980, Parks was a founding member of the Jazz Fusion band Koinonia. Parks is best known for his many contributions to albums and performed with Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Lyle Lovett, Rickie Lee Jones, Joe Sample, Toni Braxton, David Foster, Joan Baez CrosbyNash, Madonna, StevieWonder, Barbra Streisand, Roberto Carlos, EltonJohn, CelineDion, TheMonkees, America, Diana Ross, George Benson, Rod Stewart, Randy Travis, Bob Seger, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Michael Bublé, Barry Manilow, David Lee Roth, Paul Simon Dolly Parton, Kenny Loggins, Tom Scott, B.B. King, Dusty Springfield, Johnny Rivers, James Taylor, Carole King, Randy Newman, Joe Cocker, The GypsyQueens, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan Bread.
Dean Parks is featured on Viktor Krauss' album "II".
Tours
During the late 1970s, Parks teamed up with Bread for their "Lost Without Your Love" reunion tour, following the departure of founding member Jimmy Griffin, Parks then became the 'unofficial' fourth member for the duration of the 1977/78 tours, including the visit to England to record a BBC TV special. He also continued the role when Bread's co-founder, David Gates, put together his own solo touring band shortly afterwards. In the spring of 2005 he joined David Crosby and Graham Nash
Recent live/TV performances include shows with icons James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, David Foster, Carole King, Quincy Jones, The Oscars, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Library of Congress, Kennedy Center Honors, and Austin City Limits