DESCRIPTION:
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his work with Brian Wilson, including writing the lyrics for the Beach Boys album Smile.

Parks has released six studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also worked with such notable performers as Phil Ochs, Grace Kelly, Delaney Bramlett, The Byrds, Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Silverchair, Ry Cooder, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr.

Here Van Dyke talks about the Californian music scene in the sixties and his work with The Byrds.