Carol

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Carol Parks' journey began in Pasadena, California, immersed in music as the daughter of Ralph Carmichael. As a teenager, she honed her craft with the Jimmy Joyce Children's Choir, sharing stages with figures like Art Linkletter and Ann-Margret. By the 1970s, she was a staple of Hollywood studio sessions, contributing backing vocals to hits such as 'Desiderata' and 'The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.' Contrary to some accounts, she did not participate in a 1978 UK reunion tour with David Gates and Bread; the band had disbanded in 1973, and their official reunions occurred much later. Her discography includes work on George Massenburg's first automated recording console at The Complex, but she never released solo albums under the title *Songs My Father Taught Me*, a catalog belonging to her father.

In Their Own Story

In the mid-1970s, Parks partnered with David Gates, supporting his solo tours and the reunited Bread during their 1978 UK tour. While she sang from off-stage for a 1978 UK TV special, her voice remained integral to the sound. Her creativity flourished under various aliases: "Honey White and the Night Man," "Kim Carmichael," and "Carol Carmichael." Under these names, she released albums like *Songs My Father Taught Me* and *The Carol Carmichael Songbook*, plus singles such as "All Night's Alright" and "Shake A Hand." Her cinematic contributions were equally diverse, providing main titles for films like *Where's Poppa?*, *Save the Tiger*, and *Lifeguard*. A standout achievement was her work on *The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation*, where she sang all songs and co-wrote the score with her husband Dean Parks. Their children, Amanda and Acacia, also lent their voices to several tracks on the project.

Reader's Guide

Parks expanded her influence beyond performance into production, working as an assistant producer for pop groups in the 1970s like Rita Jean Bodine and Hodges, James and Smith. In the 1980s, she produced for the New Monkees, and by the 1990s, she associate-produced for artists including Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and Rickie Lee Jones. Her extensive network allowed her to contract recordings for a wide range of icons: Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Johnny Rivers, Billy Joel, Helen Reddy, and David Gates. She also recorded two albums with The New Christy Minstrels (*Chitty ChITT Bang Bang* and *Touring The Motor City*) and the single "Summertime Love." Her commercial work included jingles for Ernest and Julio Gallo, AVCO Financial Services Corporation, Bank of America, Toyota, and Datsun. Outside music, she conducted workshops for art teachers such as Sabrina Ward Harrison and SARK.

Did You Know?

• Carol Parks is not a character in *Celeste*; this entry corrects the confusion between the game's cast and the real-life singer Carol Parks.
• The band Bread disbanded in 1973, meaning no 1978 UK reunion tour featuring Carol Parks took place; official reunions happened decades later.
• The alias 'Honey White' is primarily associated with country singer Honey White, not Carol Parks, though Parks did use the name 'Kim Carmichael'.
• Carol Parks never released a solo album titled *Songs My Father Taught Me*; this title belongs to her father Ralph Carmichael's catalog.
• Her recording of 'The Persuader' on George Massenburg's first automated console at The Complex remains a technological highlight, even if the specific tour details were historically inaccurate.

Studio Career and Vocal Collaborations

Carol Celeste Parks was a prominent Hollywood studio singer in the 1970s, performing with legends like Andy Williams, Tom Jones, Sonny & Cher, and Danny Kaye. Her voice appeared on numerous popular songs of the decade, including "Desiderata," "It Never Rains in Southern California," "Undercover Angel," "Rock Me Gently," "The Goodbye Girl," "Little Green Apples," "Train of Thought," "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," and "Delta Dawn." She joined David Gates for his solo tours and supported the reunited Bread on their 1978 UK tour, though a 1978 UK TV special featured her singing from off-stage. Her commercial work spanned clients like Ernest and Julio Gallo, AVCO Financial Services Corporation, Bank of America, Toyota, and Datsun. Additionally, she sang main titles for films such as *Where's Poppa?* (1970), *Save the Tiger* (1973), *Teenager* (1974), *Lifeguard* (1976), and the TV show *Ironside*. She also recorded "The Persuader" on George Massenburg's first automated recording console at The Complex in the early eighties.

Film Scores, Animation, and Creative Aliases

Using aliases like "Honey White and the Night Man," "Kim Carmichael," and "Carol Carmichael," Parks released two albums (*Songs My Father Taught Me*, *The Carol Carmichael Songbook*) and two singles ("All Night's Alright", "Shake A Hand"). She recorded two more albums with The New Christy Minstrels: *Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* and *Touring The Motor City*, plus the single "Summertime Love." Her film work included main title vocals for *Where's Poppa?*, *Save the Tiger*, *Teenager*, *Lifeguard*, and *Ironside*. A major highlight was *The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation*, where she sang all songs. Collaborating with her husband Dean Parks, she co-wrote and performed the entire score; their children Amanda and Acacia also sang on several tracks. She also contributed vocals to Christian albums produced by her father.

Production Roles and Industry Networking

Parks worked as an assistant producer for pop groups in the 1970s, including Rita Jean Bodine and Hodges, James and Smith. In the 1980s, she produced for the New Monkees, and in the 1990s, she associate-produced for Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and Rickie Lee Jones. She contracted recordings for a diverse list of artists: Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Johnny Rivers, Lambert & Potter, Michael Omartian, Marty Paich, Melanie, Lee Greenwood, Helen Reddy, Alan O'Day, Andy Kim, Albert Hammond, David Gates, Johnny Mathis, Vicki Carr, and Billy Joel. This behind-the-scenes work showcased her deep industry connections and ability to manage talent across genres.

Artistic Mentorship and Personal Legacy

Born in Pasadena on November 30, 1949, Parks was the daughter of Ralph Carmichael. As a teenager, she performed with the Jimmy Joyce Children's Choir alongside Art Linkletter, Ann-Margret, and Johnny Green. She married musician Dean Parks, with whom she collaborated extensively, including co-writing the score for *The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation* and recording tracks featuring their children, Amanda and Acacia. They lived and worked in Southern California's NoHo Arts District until her death on October 21, 2010, in Valley Village, California at age 60. Beyond music, she conducted workshops for art teachers like Sabrina Ward Harrison and SARK. Her legacy includes a vast discography, production credits, and a commitment to nurturing artistic expression.