 Parks was born on 23 May 1953 in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Newark, Delaware graduating from Christiana High School in 1971, along with being a Drum Major.He earned a bachelor's degree from West Chester University, where he was the drum major in the West Chester University Golden Rams Marching Band.At West Chester, Parks was initiated into the Rho Sigma chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.