Charlie Parker, also known as "Bird," was a pioneering American jazz saxophonist and composer who played a crucial role in the development of bebop.
Parker began playing the saxophone at age 11 and joined the Lincoln High School band at 14, where he studied under bandmaster Alonzo Lewis.
After leaving high school, Parker practiced up to 15 hours a day to master improvisation, which led to his revolutionary contributions to jazz.
Biography
Early Life
Charles Parker Jr., known as "Bird" or "Yardbird," was born on August 29, 1920, in Kansas City, Kansas. He was raised in a musically inclined family; his father was a pianist and his mother worked nights at Western Union. Parker's early exposure to music began in Catholic school, where he sang in the choir. After his parents' separation in 1930, he faced financial struggles but continued to pursue music, learning the saxophone at age 11 and joining the Lincoln High School band at 14. He left high school in December 1935 to focus on his musical career.
Career
Parker's career took off in the late 1930s as he played with local bands and participated in jam sessions, honing his improvisational skills. His dedication to practice was intense, often spending up to 15 hours a day perfecting his craft. Despite a serious car accident in 1936 that left him with broken ribs and a fractured spine, he returned to music and began to develop his unique sound. Parker became a leading figure in the bebop movement, known for his virtuosic technique and innovative harmonic ideas. His compositions, such as "Ornithology" and "Ko-Ko," showcased his ability to create original melodies over existing jazz forms.
Personal Life
Parker's personal life was tumultuous, marked by struggles with addiction and mental health issues. He married Rebecca Ruffin in 1936, but their relationship deteriorated due to his growing drug addiction, leading to their divorce in 1939. Despite these challenges, Parker produced many brilliant recordings and became a significant influence in jazz. His nickname "Yardbird" inspired several of his compositions, reflecting his deep connection to the music he created. Parker passed away on March 12, 1955, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape jazz today.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Night in Tunisia2006
- 1.Billie's Bounce3:10
- 2.Ko Ko2:54
- 3.Night in Tunisia3:08
- 4.Ornithology3:01
- 5.Moose the Mooche3:05
- 6.Yardbird Suite2:41
- 7.The Gypsy3:04
- 8.Be Bop2:54
- 9.Lover Man3:20
- 10.Cool Blues2:21
- 11.Bird's Nest2:43
- 12.Crarvin' the Bird2:44
- 13.Stupendous2:54
- 14.Relaxin' at Camarillo3:03
- 15.Cheers3:05
- 16.Chasin' the Bird2:46
- 17.Cheryl3:02
- 18.Buzzy2:33
- 19.Donna Lee2:34
- 20.Bird of Paradise3:14
- 21.Dexterity3:02
Bird's Nest2005
- 1.A Night In Tunisia3:11
- 2.Dizzy Atmosphere4:02
- 3.Groovin' High5:21
- 4.Ornithology3:04
- 5.Yardbird Suite2:43
- 6.Moose The Mooche / Lullaby Of Birdland5:12
- 7.The Gypsy3:06
- 8.Max Making Wax2:33
- 9.Loverman3:24
- 10.Bebop2:57
- 11.Cool Blues2:23
- 12.Bird's Nest2:45
- 13.Dark Shadows3:13
- 14.This Is Always3:12
- 15.Out Of Nowhere4:06
- 16.My Old Flame3:15
- 17.Klact-oveededs-teine3:08
- 18.Don't Blame Me2:49
- 19.Bird Feathers2:54
Super Session2002
- 1.Funky Blues13:29
- 2.What Is This Thing Called Love15:52
- 3.Ballad Medley17:25
- 4.Jam Blues14:41
Blue Rondo1997
- 1.Blue Rondo a la Turk7:53
- 2.Première rhapsodie7:50
- 3.Waltz for Debby8:55
- 4.Clarinet Sonatina, H.42: I. Modere2:20
- 5.Clarinet Sonatina, H.42: II. Lent et soutenu2:12
- 6.Clarinet Sonatina, H.42: III. Vif et rythmique1:07
- 7.Minha Saudade (My Longing)4:07
- 8.3 Pieces for Solo Clarinet: No. 1. Sempre piano e molto tranquillo: quarter note = 522:04
- 9.3 Pieces for Solo Clarinet: No. 2. quarter note = 1681:09
- 10.3 Pieces for Solo Clarinet: No. 3. quarter note = 1601:12
- 11.Yardbird Suite4:44
- 12.Clarinet Sonata, FP184: I. Allegro tristemente5:31
- 13.Clarinet Sonata, FP184: II. Romanza: Tres calme5:59
- 14.Clarinet Sonata, FP184: III. Allegro con fuoco3:13
- 15.A Child Is Born5:44
Bird on the Wing1993
- 1.Dream of You2:52
- 2.Oh, Oh, My, My, Oh, Oh2:47
- 3.Sorta Kinda3:03
- 4.Seventh Avenue2:53
- 5.What’s the Matter Now2:44
- 6.4‐F Blues2:17
- 7.That’s the Blues2:58
- 8.I Want Every Bit of It2:56
- 9.Mean to Me2:37
- 10.I’d Rather Have a Memory2:44
- 11.What More Can a Woman Do3:03
- 12.Slam Slam Blues5:10
- 13.Congo Blues3:54
An Evening at Home With the Bird1992
- 1.There's a Small Hotel10:51
- 2.These Foolish Things3:54
- 3.Fine and Dandy5:58
- 4.Hot House9:17
Bird’s Night1991
- 1.Parker’s Mood10:38
- 2.Steeplechase12:26
- 3.Buzzy14:25
- 4.Scrapple From The Apple8:39
Jam Session1990
- 1.Jam Blues14:44
- 2.What Is This Thing Called Love15:53
- 3.Ballad Medley17:25
- 4.Funky Blues13:27
Charlie Parker in Sweden 19501986
- 1.Anthropology6:10
- 2.Scrapple from the Apple6:33
- 3.Embraceable You2:40
- 4.Cool Blues5:21
- 5.Star Eyes2:16
- 6.All the Things You Are5:01
- 7.Strike Up the Band4:41
- 8.Body and Soul5:03
- 9.Fine and Dandy5:44
- 10.How High the Moon3:38
Royal Roost Bop1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Fragments1982
- 1.Sly Mongoose
- 2.Little Suede Shoes
- 3.Cheryl
- 4.Barbados
- 5.Anthropology
- 6.Night InTunisia
- 7.Salt Peanuts
- 8.Perdido
- 9.Little Willie Leaps
Once There Was Bird1962
- 1.Hallelujah Take 14:08
- 2.Hallelujah Take 23:56
- 3.Get Happy Take 33:59
- 4.Get Happy Take 43:38
- 5.Slam Slam Blues Take 14:59
- 6.Slam Slam Blues Take 24:22
- 7.Congo Blues Take 1 Incomplete1:06
- 8.Congo Blues Take 2 Incomplete1:15
- 9.Congo Blues Take 33:54
- 10.Congo Blues Take 43:48
- 11.Congo Blues Take 53:47
An Historical Meeting At The Summit1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Happy "Bird"1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
Plays Cole Porter - The Genius of Charlie Parker #51957
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Charlie Parker Story1956
Tracklist not collected yet.
Charlie Parker Memorial Vol. 11955
Tracklist not collected yet.
Charlie Parker1954
Tracklist not collected yet.
Bird - Diz - Bud - Max1953
Tracklist not collected yet.
Bird and Diz1952
Tracklist not collected yet.
South of the Border1952
Tracklist not collected yet.
Red Norvo's Fabulous Jam Session1951
Tracklist not collected yet.
Charlie Parker Sextet1950
Tracklist not collected yet.
Charlie Parker With Strings1949
Tracklist not collected yet.
Don't Blame Me1993
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Verve Records
- Record label
- Savoy Records
- Record label
- Mercury Records
- Record label
- Dial Records
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance
- Award
- Grammy Hall of Fame
- Award
- Kansas Music Hall of Fame
Influenced by
Groups
- Charlie Parker Big Bandeponymouscurrent
- Charlie Parker Quarteteponymouscurrent
- Charlie Parker Quinteteponymous, originalcurrent
- Charlie Parker Septeteponymous, originalcurrent
- Charlie Parker Sexteteponymous, originalcurrent
- Charlie Parker and His Orchestraeponymous, originalcurrent
- Charlie Parker's Jazzerseponymouscurrent
- Charlie Parker’s Ree Bopperseponymous, originalcurrent
- Dizzy Gillespie Jazzmenoriginalcurrent
- Dizzy Gillespie Sextetcurrent
- Dizzy Gillespie’s All‐Star Quintetalto saxophone, originalcurrent
- Dizzy Gillespie’s Rebop Sixcurrent
- Jay McShann & His Orchestracurrent
- Miles Davis All Starscurrent
- Red Norvo & His Selected Sextetcurrent
- Red Norvo All-Starscurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Bird, Bird And Chet, C. Parker, Charles Christopher Parker, Jr, Charles Parker, Charley Parker
Charles Parker Jr., nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies. He was a virtuoso and introduced revolutionary rhythmic and harmonic ideas into jazz, including rapid passing chords, new variants of altered chords, and chord substitutions. Parker primarily played the alto saxophone.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
…