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Charlie Parker

American jazz saxophonist (1920-1955) · United States · Musicians · Died at 34

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He rewired jazz in real time - fast, knotted, harmonically left-field - and made the alto saxophone sound like thought moving faster than anyone expected music could go.

MusiciansSinger / MusicianEsportsMusicClassicalUnited StatesAmericas20th Century

A life in dates

2011Kansas Music Hall of FameAward1994Grammy Hall of FameAward1987Grammy Hall of FameAward1984Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAward1983Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAward1974Grammy Award for Best Jazz PerformanceAward1955Died12 March 1955“l'd been getting bored with the stereotyped changes that were being used all the time at the time, and I kept thinking there's bound to be something else.”In their wordsOn his personal stylistic breakthrough, quoted in Hear Me Talkin' to Ya (1955) edited by Nat Hentoff and Nat Shapiro, . p 354

“Any musician who says he is playing better either on tea, the needle, or when he is juiced, is a plain, straight liar.”In their wordsAs quoted in Hear Me Talkin' to Ya: The Story of Jazz As Told by the Men Who Made It (1955) edited by by Nat Shapiro and Nat Hentoff, p. 379

1954Charlie ParkerAlbum1953Bird - Diz - Bud - MaxAlbum1939“I realized by using the high notes of the chords as a melodic line, and by the right harmonic progression, I could play what I heard inside me. That's when I was born.”In their wordsc. 1939 quoted in Masters of Jazz

1920Born29 August 1920

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Portrait of Charlie Parker in 1947Portrait of Charlie Parker in 1947(52nd Street, New York, N.Y., ca. 1948) (LOC) (4976463491) (cropped)(52nd Street, New York, N.Y., ca. 1948) (LOC) (4976463491) (cropped)(52nd Street, New York, N.Y., ca. 1948) (LOC) (4976463491)(52nd Street, New York, N.Y., ca. 1948) (LOC) (4976463491)(52nd Street, New York, N.Y., ca. 1948) (LOC) (4976463831)(52nd Street, New York, N.Y., ca. 1948) (LOC) (4976463831)(Portrait of Charlie Parker and Tommy Potter, Three Deuces, New York, N.Y., ca. Aug. 1947) (LOC) (4843140637)(Portrait of Charlie Parker and Tommy Potter, Three Deuces, New York, N.Y., ca. Aug. 1947) (LOC) (4843140637)(Portrait of Charlie Parker, Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., ca. 1947) (LOC) (5105150328)(Portrait of Charlie Parker, Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., ca. 1947) (LOC) (5105150328)(Portrait of Charlie Parker, Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., ca. 1947) (LOC) (5105150496)(Portrait of Charlie Parker, Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., ca. 1947) (LOC) (5105150496)(Portrait of Charlie Parker, Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., ca. 1947) (LOC) (5105150748)(Portrait of Charlie Parker, Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., ca. 1947) (LOC) (5105150748)

In their own words 6

,
Charlie Parker
,
6 statements, newest first

  1. l'd been getting bored with the stereotyped changes that were being used all the time at the time, and I kept thinking there's bound to be something else.

    1955, On his personal stylistic breakthrough, quoted in Hear Me Talkin' to Ya (1955) edited by Nat Hentoff and Nat Shapiro, . p 354, Own words

  2. Any musician who says he is playing better either on tea, the needle, or when he is juiced, is a plain, straight liar.

    1955, As quoted in Hear Me Talkin' to Ya: The Story of Jazz As Told by the Men Who Made It (1955) edited by by Nat Shapiro and Nat Hentoff, p. 379, Own words

  3. I realized by using the high notes of the chords as a melodic line, and by the right harmonic progression, I could play what I heard inside me. That's when I was born.

    1939, c. 1939 quoted in Masters of Jazz, Own words

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Albums 24

RBRadio Bird2023
CRComplete Recordings2020
PPPlays Cole Porter2020
NTNow's The Time2020
ASAt Café Society2020
NTNight in Tunisia2006
BNBird's Nest2005
SSSuper Session2002
BRBlue Rondo1997
BWBird on the Wing1993
ABAn Evening at Home With the Bird1992
BNBird's Night1991
JSJam Session1990
CSCharlie Parker in Sweden 19501986
RBRoyal Roost Bop1982
FRFragments1982
OBOnce There Was Bird1962
TBThe Happy "Bird"1961
ASAn Historical Meeting At The Summit1961
PPPlays Cole Porter - The Genius of Charlie Parker #51957
TSThe Charlie Parker Story1956
CVCharlie Parker Memorial Vol. 11955
CPCharlie Parker1954
BMBird - Diz - Bud - Max1953

Awards

Kansas Music Hall of Fame2011
Grammy Hall of Fame1994
Grammy Hall of Fame1987
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award1984
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award1983
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance1974

In their orbit

Spouse: Chan Parker

About this person

Charles Parker Jr., born August 29, 1920, picked up the alto saxophone and became the central architect of bebop, the form that cracked jazz open with rapid tempos, virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies no one had quite heard before. He introduced revolutionary rhythmic and harmonic ideas - rapid passing chords, new variants of altered chords, chord substitutions - that pulled the music into territory more cerebral and technically demanding than what came before. Nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird," he became 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. He died March 12, 1955, at thirty-four.

Country
United States
Category
Musicians
Type
Singer / Musician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1920 to 1955 · aged 34

In common with Charlie

Oleta AdamsBoth received Kansas Music Hall of FameDexter GordonBoth received Grammy Award for Best Jazz PerformanceSamantha FishBoth received Kansas Music Hall of FameHerbie HancockBoth received Grammy Award for Best Jazz PerformanceCount BasieBoth received Grammy Award for Best Jazz PerformanceChely WrightBoth received Kansas Music Hall of Fame

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