Its been such a sad day for anyone in the marching arts- George N. Parks, who was a legendary UMASS marching band director for 33 years- hugely involved in Drum Corps Associates and the Reading Bucaneers- and held every summer legendary Drum Major Clinics- pass away suddenly from a heart attack, very prematurely at 57 years old- whilst taking the UMASS band to Michigan-
George N. Parks was a household name in my life- he was hugely inspirational to my high school marching band and a one of a kind, hugely motivational, person, a great music educator- I once played in a band under him - just once for a single concert, but I remember it all and it was inspiring and incredible experience and it awesome to play under him-
My facebook is flooded with so many people from all corners of my life who knew him- and paying tributes- its incredible
They reckon his name, in the small marching band world- is second only to John Phillip Sousa
RIP George N. Parks