Parks was member of the North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band before moving to Los Angeles to work with Sonny and Cher in 1970. In 1980, Parks was a founding member of the Christian Jazz Fusion band Koinonia. Parks is best known for his many contributions to albums by Steely Dan and Michael Jackson. Notably, he played guitar on the "Royal Scam" track "Haitian Divorce", which features a Talkbox. He has performed with Joan Baez, Gordon Lightfoot, Alexander O'Neal, Crosby and Nash, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Roberto Carlos, Elton John, Celine Dion, the Monkees, Madeleine Peyroux, America, Diana Ross, George Benson, Rod Stewart, Randy Travis, Bob Seger, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Michael Bublé, Barry Manilow, David Lee Roth, Paul Simon, Dolly Parton, Amanda Lear, Kenny Loggins, Tom Scott, B.B. King, Dusty Springfield, Randy Edelman, Leon Gieco, Koinonia, Johnny Rivers, Johnny Hallyday, Randy Newman, Joe Cocker, David Baerwald, the Gypsy Queens and Bread. Parks is also a long time collaborator on David Foster albums; such as "Shadows" by Gordon Lightfoot.