About
The Skyline Boys
Promotional Flier, est. 1948-1950
Kyle Davis, A Great Nephew of Roy Parks
A Grandson of Hilda Parks Jones
Source: Private Collection
My name is Kyle Davis. I run this site in memory of James Oscar Parks (1899-1948) and Marjorie Lee Wyrick Parks (1908-1974). James and Marjorie were parents, grandparents, great-grandparents (and probably 2x great-grandparents+) to many. Great-grandparents to me. I’m fortunate to be able to share their legacy via this site.
James and Marjorie were from the VA/NC border area and had twelve kids between 1924 and the 1940s. Two of their eldest were Roy Leon Parks (1925-1996) and my grandma, Hilda Parks Jones (1928-2002). Marjorie was a musician. Roy and my Grandma, and two other Parks kids, took to music: Patsy Parks Lawson (1938-2022) and James H. Parks (1945-2025).
James Oscar & Marjorie Parks
Parents of Roy Leon Parks
Source: Family Photos
The Parks’ name traces to an ancestor from Ireland in the 1640s. Not much is known about Marjorie’s ancestors, the Wyricks. Her parents were Ell R. Wyrick and Lillie Isabell Parker Wyrick. She was the middle of three siblings. The thought is she inherited a natural music ability and influence from her family, but there is no way to confirm.
Many of my relatives have spoken about Great-Grandma Marjorie’s skillful string playing and singing abilities. Her son, James Hicks Parks, referred to her guitar playing style as similar to “a reverse banjo roll,” and remembers liking a song she picked and sang about “the Ford and the Cadillac.” I’ve coined her our family’s ‘Musical Matriarch.’
Beginning from 1908, we count successive generations of musicians within the family.
the story
In 2023, I endeavored to honor my mother, Regina Davis. A daughter of Hilda Virginia Parks Jones, and a granddaughter of James Oscar and Marjorie Parks. Mom and her siblings grew up in the same area as Marjorie, and didn’t have much in childhood. I wanted to do something positive and set out to substantiate lore. My father, Shawn Davis, inspired me to take this on.
I, like many of Marjorie’s descendants, grew up hearing rumors about her son, Roy Leon Parks, and an association with Tex Ritter. A couple of other stories that I heard were that Jimmy Dean visited the Parks’ house, Roy’s band toured with Tim Holt, and that my grandparents were on the radio, which I now believe happened in the ‘guest’ format that was popular in those days. Being only a kid when Roy passed, I didn’t understand everything until I got older and developed my own interest in music.
When this project, and now website, began, these were the sources of info that led to what we now have. Unfortunately, few artifacts or remnants of Roy’s career organically found their way into the family. Over the past few years, I’ve made it one of my life’s projects to find and document material related to ‘The Skyline Boys.’
This is a preservation project and platform to recognize Roy Parks and his colleagues alike. Special recognition to Roy’s only son, Randell Young. Much love. Shout-out to the Jones, Davis, Swiney, and Lawson families, who all have numerous active generational musicians across different scenes.
L-R: Regina Davis, David Jones
Hilda Parks Jones, Roy L. Parks
Richmond, VA, Christmas Eve 1977.
Source: Family Photos
Roy and my grandparents had a unique relationship. My grandfather, Elmer W. Jones (EW) (1922-2006), was deserted as a child and lived with the Parks family. There he met my grandmother, Hilda. There are stories about EW growing up with the Parks boys and taking food to Grandma at school. Their childhood backdrop was the Great Depression and the years leading up to WW2. Roy served in the Pacific Navy on the U.S.S. Memphis, and EW under Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. The Parks brothers all served in the Armed Forces. As adults, Roy lived on and off with EW and Hilda, among other places, when off tour. At one point, my grandparents added a room to their house for Roy. My Uncle David Jones remembers Roy staying there “for months.” My aunts, uncles, and cousins have fond memories of their time with “cool Uncle” Roy.
L-R: Roy L. Parks, Elmer W. Jones
Richmond, VA, est. 1970s
Source: Family Photos
Country music was a centerpiece at the Jones home, and Roy and my grandparents jammed. Roy was an inspiration to them. I located and digitally preserved their recordings. Over sixty cassettes from EW and Hilda’s collection were reviewed and sorted. Five family cassette recordings were identified. The cassettes had been passed from EW and Hilda’s estate to my Aunt and Uncle, Diane and Joe Swiney, and to my parents. They managed to survive for thirty to forty years in storage until I started asking questions…
Cassette: Roy Parks, EW Jones, Hilda P. Jones
Southwestern, VA, est. 1960s-1970s
Source: Private Collection
A cassette was also passed on to me by my Great Uncle James H. Parks, one of the younger children of Marjorie and James Oscar Parks. Roy gave the cassette to James in the 1980s or 1990s without providing any specific details about its contents (see the Origins section for more information about what is on the cassette). James received his first guitar from Roy when he was seven (1952). Roy taught him a few chords, and James became an extremely adept player himself. James and Roy were able to play together for about a year in NC in the 1970s. Special acknowledgement to Uncle James for his participation in this project and his blessing to pursue it. A truly great man who did right by all of his family.
Front L-R: James H. Parks, Roy L. Parks
Greensboro, NC, 1970s
Source: Family Photos
In loving memory of James Oscar and Marjorie Lee, Roy Parks, Hilda Parks, Elmer Jones, Patsy Parks Lawson, James H. Parks, Muffy, Pete, Clarence, Norris, Dicky, Ralph Parks, and Jennifer Jones Quesenberry. Thanks to the contributors who assisted in locating artifacts or offered their insights over the years. You’ve all been a great help.
Shoutout to my brother and appointed family member, Brent Godbehere, who has assisted with the site.
Thank you to Dr. Kip Lornell, who’s been kind enough to review my work.