| Charlie Parker |
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Charlie "Yardbird" Parker | |
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Born: August 29, 1920 Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas Instrument: Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet Music Training: Lincoln High School, Kansas City Missouri Bands and Orchestras: Jay McShann, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Cootie Williams, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie Signature Song: "Round Midnight" Charlie Parker biography: The life of Charlie Parker, nicknamed Bird, is one of the most tragic stories in the music world. The nickname comes from his love of chicken. He was mostly a self taught musician. Early in his career he was quite literally laughed off the stage. Later while playing with the Basie Orchestra he lost the key and could not find it which prompted drummer Jo Jones to throw a cymbal at his feet. After stints with the Jay McShann's band and Billy Eckstine's band "Bird" had an epiphany which allowed him to play the music that he heard in his head. He became a formative member of that peculiar style of Jazz known as Bebop while playing at Mintons in Harlem with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Christian, Kenny Clarke and Thelonius Monk. Together with Gillespie he formed a legendary small band. However, Parker led a self destructive life style seeking pleasure at every turn which led to his heroin addiction. His unreliable behavior as a drug addict caused Gillespie to leave the group and landed Parker in a mental hospital with a nervous breakdown. Upon his release he reformed the group replacing Gillespie with the young Miles Davis. Finally, he succumbed to his addiction in 1955 at the tender age of 34. Died: March 12, 1955
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