The only child of Charles and Addie Parker, Charlie Parker
was one of the most important and influential saxophonists
and jazz players of the 1940’s.  When Parker was still a child,
his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where jazz, blues
and gospel music were flourishing. His first contact with music
came from school, where he played baritone horn with the
school’s band. When he was 15, he showed a great interestin 

music and a love for the alto saxophone. Soon, Parker was
playing with local bands until 1935, when he left school topursue

a music career.  From 1935 to 1939, Parker worked in

Kansas City with several local jazz and blues bands from

which he developed his art. In 1939, Parker visited New York
for the first time, and he stayed for nearly a year working as

a professional musician and often participating in jam sessions. 

The New York atmosphere greatly influenced Parker's musical
style. In 1938, Parker joined the band of pianist Jay McShann, 

with whom he toured around Southwest Chicago and New York.
A year later, Parker traveled to Chicago and was a regular
performer at a club on 55th street. Parker soon moved to
New York. He washed dishes at a local food place where he
met guitarist Biddy Fleet, the man who taught him about
instrumental harmony. Shortly afterwards, Parker returned to
 Kansas City to attend his father’s funeral. Once there, he joined
Harlan Leonard’s Rockets and stayed for five months.  In 1939,
Yardbird rejoined McShann and was placed in charge of the
reed section. Then, in 1940, Parker made his first recording with
 the McShann orchestra. During the four years that Parker stayed
 with McShann's band, he got the opportunity to perform solo in
several of their recordings, such as Hootie Blues, Sepian Bounce,
 and the 1941 hit Confessing the Blues. In 1942, while on tour with
 McShann, Parker performed in jam sessions at Monroe’s and
Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem. There he caught the attention of
up-and-coming jazz artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious
 Monk. Later that year, Parker broke with McShann and joined
Earl Hines for eight months. The year 1945 was extremely important
for Parker. During that time he led his own group in New York
and also worked with Gillespie in several ensembles. In December,
 Parker and Gillespie took their music to Hollywood on a six-week
 nightclub tour. Parker continued to perform in Los Angeles
until June 1946, when he suffered a nervous breakdown and
was confined at a state hospital. After his release in January
1947, Parker returned to New York and formed a quintet that
performed some of his most famous tunes. From 1947 to 1951,

Parker worked in a number of nightclubs, radio studios, and

othervenues performing solo or with the accompaniment of

other musicians. During this time, he visited Europe where 

he was cheered by devoted fans and did numerous recordings.

March 5, 1955, was Parker’s last public engagement at Birdland,

a nightclub in New York that was named in his honor. He died a 

week later in a friend’s apartment.  Charles "Yardbird" Parker was

an amazing saxophonist who gained wide recognition for his brilliant

solos and innovative improvisations. He was, without a doubt, one

of the most influential and talented musicians
 in jazz history.