Paris Brenton York passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Tulsa. He was 80.Born in Indianola on August 17, 1934 the son of G.W. and Ruby York, Paris moved to Vinita in 1939. He became interested in music as an 8th grader when an uncle introduced him to recordings of the big bands such as, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and more. Paris had the opportunity to play in four different high school bands: Vinita, McAlester, Wewoka and finally graduating from Picher High School. By then he was playing most of the woodwinds and some of the brass. He started his teaching career early. His band director at Picher, Bob Highland, asked him to tutor some of the younger students. One of those students was Burl Lane, retired contra bassoonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Paris played in the All Oklahoma All State band in 1950 at Oklahoma A & M College in Stillwater. The guest conductor was Bohumil Makovski. This was one of Bo's final performances before he passed away. He made a strong impression on a young man aspiring to become a band director just as Paris did with so many of his former students.After graduating high school in 1952, Paris married his high school sweet heart Rose Jones. Paris spent the next three years in The U.S. Marine Corps Bands finishing with the San Diego Post Band. While in San Diego, Paris studied flute with fellow marine, Gunther Kane, who before being drafted was a flutist with the Chicago Symphony. His most impressionable and influencing musician in the Marine Corps was the late great jazz saxophonist and composer, Oliver Nelson.After his discharge from the Corps in 1955, Paris attended the University of Oklahoma, receiving his bachelors and masters degrees. He was a grad assistant to Leonard Haug in the spring of 1959 and took his first teaching position in the fall of 1959 at Eufaula. He then moved to Poteau in 1960-64 where his concert and marching bands were consistent superior winners at district, state and Tri-State music contests. Then he went to Adair to become principal and band director (a combination job for two years) where his bands rated superior.In 1967, Paris became supervisor of music and the high school band director at Broken Arrow, starting the tradition of excellence and naming the band "The Pride of Broken Arrow" that still continues today. During his tenure at Broken Arrow, then a class 4-A school, he had consistent superior ratings with his concert bands, marching bands and two competitive jazz bands. His jazz band competed and won the first state stage band contest in Oklahoma at Bethany High School in 1967. Paris was a charter member of the National Association of Jazz Educators in Oklahoma. He was chairman of the OMEA all state bands in 1968-69 and was a song leader for many years at the Broken Arrow Church of Christ. In 1972, Paris and former partner Bill Harris started The Music Store, Inc. in Tulsa.In 1986 Paris served as president of the University of Oklahoma Alumni Band and also served as president of the Oklahoma Music Merchants Association. In 1988 he was awarded honorary conductor of the University of Oklahoma campus Band Association. In 1997 Paris was inducted into the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame. Paris retired in 2010 as Associate Conductor of The Tulsa Community Band after 14 years. In 2011, he was the first recipient of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his mentoring of young band directors during his long career at The Music Store.Paris was always very proud of his many former students that are now either professional musicians or successful teachers. He served as a clinician for many Oklahoma school bands over the last 43 years as a road man for The Music Store and worked with his oldest son Larry, grandson Adam and great grandson Zachary at the four generation family business. Paris always had a smile on his face and a super positive attitude that inspired students, employees, band directors, and all whom he came in touch with to achieve perfection. Most people know that Paris usually had a good joke or a "groaner" as some will say, and whether it was good or not, his laugh was always contagious. He was a kind hearted, devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend whose name is written in the Book of Life. He was preceded in death by his parents and great-grandson, Jon Parsons. He is survived by his loving wife, Rose; brother, Charles W. York; son, Larry and wife, Liz; daughter, Cindy Eberting and husband, Casey; son, Victor and wife, Teresa; granddaughter, Amie Parsons and husband, Scott; grandson, Adam York and wife, Misty; grandson, Taylor York; granddaughter, Rachel Hodgkins and husband, Nick; granddaughter, Rebekah York; great-grandchildren, Zachary Parsons, Mary Parsons, Sarah Jordan and husband Paul, Abbie Parsons, Joe and Addilynn York, Cassidy Hodgkins; two sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be at 2PM Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at The Church of Christ, 505 E. Kenosha St. in Broken Arrow.