Gordon Parks was an American photographer, musician, writer, and film director (1912-2006). Parks was a self-taught pianist who composed piano sonatas, a symphony, and other works for the concert stage. He directed and composed the music for Shaft's Big Score! which includes the song Blowin' Your Mind with O.C. Smith, Don't Misunderstand, and Smart Money. Parks also wrote several volumes of poetry and fiction, directed films, and appeared in the documentary How to Eat Your Watermelon In White Company.