Parks' professional exploits have taken her from the Upstate to the world-famous Carnegie Hall, where she performed with the Boston Pops. Parks has established herself both on stage and on screen. She is also a solo recording artist. Parks starred in a film version of "Porgy and Bess," in the title role made first made famous in the film version by the legendary Dorothy Dandridge. She has starred in the stage production of another Dandridge classic, the opera "Carmen Jones." Her recordings "Freedom's Journey," with Opera Ebony on Arcadia, "Symphony of Spirituals," and two solo releases "Nocturne" and "Spiritually Yours, A Private Collection."

Parks, who lives in Atlanta, has perhaps made her biggest mark with the Opera Ebony and the Dance Theater of Harlem, a 30 year-old touring company that has exported African American opera talent to the world.

Parks' classical training has included a long list of academic accomplishment. She is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Award and she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree at Furman University, a Master of Music Degree at the University of Texas at Austin and pursued postgraduate studies in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

WJMZ salutes Karen Parks, who reminds us that the talents of African Americans boundless.