Gary “Rockstar” Parks lived on the Hermosa streets, sang like an angel
Gary “Rockstar” Parks lived on the streets of Hermosa for over two decades.
by Johnny 2/3rds Anderson
Gary “Rockstar” Parks, a fixture on the Hermosa Beach Strand for over two decades, passed away Wednesday, August 5 at Little Company of Mary Medical Center. The Chicago native came to California, via Florida, to become a rockstar. He played a mean guitar and had a beautiful voice. Though stardom eluded him, the nickname Rockstar stuck.
Parks was homeless from the age of 21 and spent 42 years on the streets. He lived in the bathrooms south of the pier and sang for his supper, which was usually liquid. He’d belt out songs from the depth of his soul, sometimes with guitar, sometimes a cappella, songs by the Stones, the Beatles or anyone else who struck his fancy.
I met Gary when I was 16 or 17 at the base of the Hermosa pier, outside Diana’s tacos. My friends and I would get him to buy us beer. This lasted a few years. Gary was just one of the characters who haunted the pier and my childhood.
I reconnected with Gary in October of 2011. Gary attended a church service we hosted underneath my tattoo shop on Pier Plaza. Gary was a belligerent, stumbling, stinking drunk. But as we worshiped together that cold and rainy, fall morning, ducking in and out of the awnings to avoid the rain, Gary sang the praises of the Lord’s with us. I was forever changed that morning.
God used Gary to break open our hearts to the homeless of Hermosa Beach. Because of Gary, we began having church once a week here in Hermosa. We moved the services from Pier Plaza to Noble Park three years ago. Gary was a huge part of that.
About a year back, Gary sobered up and moved in with my mom and dad. I got to know a completely different Gary. My kids called him, “Grandpa Gary.” He was sweet and loving and became a part of my family. But six months later, on Easter Sunday, Gary made the decision to move back to the pier. Within hours he was obliterated. It was like he was making up for lost time. “Grandpa Gary” was gone. The drunk and belligerent “Rockstar” was back.
Gary taught me so much about Hermosa Beach. This is a town with a lot of money and a lot of party. I watched people enamored by his brash drunkenness. Folks loved to throw him a dollar and take a photo with him. They would call him a bum and laugh at his antics. I’m not sure if he cared. Maybe he didn’t care. Maybe the drink the money bought was worth playing the fool.
He was a warm, talented man. He loved Jesus. Loved him. He would point to the sky and remind me that I’m nothing and he’s nothing and Jesus is everything. “Jesus is number one,” he’d say with his toothless smile.
I picture him now, in the arms of his Lord, finally free of pain and finding true comfort in his Creator.
I believe he was 64, however I’m not sure. I believe he is survived by a son, somewhere, although I’m not sure of that, either.
I will miss Gary Parks very much and I think Hermosa Beach will miss him, as well.
A memorial for Gary will be held in Noble Park on Friday, August 14 at 9 a.m. Noble Park is at The Strand and 14th Street. ER