James Asher Parks (1863-1945) was born near Livonia, Pennsylvania. At age seventeen he went to Chicago where he worked for a wood finishing company while studying music in the evenings and on Saturday. After visiting an older brother living in Milford, Nebraska, he moved to that state and studied at the Nebraska Conservatory of Music in Lincoln. He then became head of the Voice Department at the Conservatory. He ran a private studio in York, Nebraska, and was the owner and operator of the J. A. Parks Publishing Company in that town. He was on the York College faculty and taught vocal music in the York public schools. He gave lessons and produced musical events in addition to composing, arranging, and publishing vocal music. He was a prolific composer and arranger who published more than 90 books and over 1700 choral pieces.

All are mixed chorus unless noted; some contain divisi.