George Parks Dies At 57

more images

ANN ARBOR (GaeaTimes.com)- George Parks, the University of Massachusetts music band director for the last 33 years died on Thursday after performing at a concert in Ohio. As per the University of Massachusetts news release, George Parks collapsed of an apparent heart attack just after the completion of the concert and failed to come to senses. It not known clearly whether he was taken to any hospital or not. However, the sudden death of George Parks, who had brought the University of Massachusetts’ music band to the forefront would no doubt overshadow the Saturday night football match between the Michigan State University team and the University of Massachusetts.

George Parks was appointed as the music director of University of Massachusetts’ band back in 1977 by John Jenkins, the University’s professor of music. On Friday, John Jenkins said to media sources that the talent of George Parks was apparent early on. He added that the music director had that unique quality of mesmerizing students with his music compositions. According to John Jenkins, George Parks was the pied piper of the University. As the news of the death of George Parks spread on Thursday, thousands of college students along with the alumnus of the university took it to the web to show their respect and pay their tribute to their beloved music director.

Apart from John Jenkins, the chairman of the University of the Massachusetts department of music and dance, Jeff Fox, held in front of the media sources that he had never met “anyone with so much energy and so much commitment to the marching band”. Jeff Fox added that George Parks believed in his work and loved his students very much.