UMass Band Director George Parks Dies

[OutlawPete]

The 33-year director of the UMass Marching Band died suddenly of a heart attack last night in Michigan

The UMass community has lost a legend. He is the reason a lot of kids decided to attend UMass and I know everyone in the band loved the guy. It's so sad he couldn't get to direct HIS band in front of 110,000 people tomorrow afternoon.

RIP

[mcveyrl]

The 33-year director of the UMass Marching Band died suddenly of a heart attack last night in Michigan

The UMass community has lost a legend. He is the reason a lot of kids decided to attend UMass and I know everyone in the band loved the guy. It's so sad he couldn't get to direct HIS band in front of 110,000 people tomorrow afternoon.

RIP

Parks is a legend in the band community. Period. My condolences to the UMass family.

[OhioHen]

Parks is a legend in the band community. Period. My condolences to the UMass family.

Agreed. As big a loss as this is to UMass, the loss to the music community at large is even bigger. Mr. Parks will be missed.

[clenz]

Terrible news for UMASS. His family and UMASS's band will be in my thoughts in the coming days.


I hope Michigan acknowledges this, and does some sort of tribute tomorrow...even if it is as simple as playing the UMASS fight song.

[bluehenbillk]

Terrible news for UMASS. His family and UMASS's band will be in my thoughts in the coming days.


I hope Michigan acknowledges this, and does some sort of tribute tomorrow...even if it is as simple as playing the UMASS fight song.

Already done, it's a long standing tradition that the Michigan band plays the opposition's fight song in pregame. I can only think of one possible exception.....

Terrible news, considering UD's band director is from UMass & they played in Dublin together for New Year's I wonder if UD will have a moment of silence.

[clenz]

Terrible news for UMASS. His family and UMASS's band will be in my thoughts in the coming days.


I hope Michigan acknowledges this, and does some sort of tribute tomorrow...even if it is as simple as playing the UMASS fight song.

Already done, it's a long standing tradition that the Michigan band plays the opposition's fight song in pregame. I can only think of one possible exception.....

Terrible news, considering UD's band director is from UMass & they played in Dublin together for New Year's I wonder if UD will have a moment of silence.

I was thinking differently in terms of their fight song other than their standard playing of it. Not sure what they could throw together quickly though to go with their regular routine.

[OutlawPete]

UMass will still be playing so I assume they will play the fight song. Maybe the Michigan fans could do the "Go! Go U! Go U Mass! Go UMass!" cheer in the middle of it? I'm sure they will acknowledge it somehow.

[siuham]

Oh wow...I just mentioned this to my girlfriend. Turns out he 'changed her life' at a drum major camp back when she was in high school. She's from the Chicago area. His reach went beyond UMass it seems and apparently it was a topic among some people in our school of music today.

[CoastalFan2005]

Parks was an absolute legend in the band community, he touched many lives including several of my HS friends who attended his summer camps. I unfortunately never had the chance to work with him, but got some of what he taught through my friends/instructors that did work with him. He will be greatly missed.

[clenz]

From Twitter


@michigan_fball: Michigan planning a moment of silence for late UMass band director before band comes out @11:38am #goblue

[SactoHornetAlum]

Parks was an absolute legend in the band community, he touched many lives including several of my HS friends who attended his summer camps. I unfortunately never had the chance to work with him, but got some of what he taught through my friends/instructors that did work with him. He will be greatly missed.

Im in the same boat as you. I have a minor is music education and the one thing I regret not doing when I was a drum major in high school was going to his DM Academy. He will be greatly missed.