Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker
Parker at the Three Deuces jazz club, New York, 1947
Parker at the Three Deuces jazz club, New York, 1947
Background information
Birth nameCharles Parker Jr.
Also known asBird, Yardbird
Born(1920-08-29)August 29, 1920
Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
DiedMarch 12, 1955(1955-03-12) (aged 34)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
Instrument(s)Alto and tenor saxophone
Years active1937–1955
Labels
Websitecharlieparkermusic.com

Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.[1] Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop,[2] 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 was primarily a player of the alto saxophone.

Parker was an icon for the hipster subculture and later the Beat Generation, personifying the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual rather than just an entertainer.[3]

  1. ^ "Charlie Parker Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story". Biography.com. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  2. ^ "100 Jazz Profiles: Charlie Parker". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Woideck, Carl (2015). Charlie Parker. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190268787.