David Leaf on Van Dyke Parks

David Leaf is the author of SMiLE: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson, which will be published in April 2025. More on his many books, documentaries and music projects at his website.

Van Dyke Parks is a legendary American musician, who shows up everywhere from Disney's The Jungle Book, to The Honeymooners, to his historic collaborations with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys (pictured above; Van Dyke is holding the guitar).

Sound links: Van Dyke Parks, "Vine Street" from Song Cycle (1967)

The Beach Boys, "Surf's Up" (1971)

Van Dyke Parks and The Blasting Company, "Old Summer Reckoning," 2021

Moment of Van Dyke, from his interview with Richard Henderson