Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker grew up listening to music.
Charlie Parker (1920-1955) spent his childhood in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the hottest jazz spots in the country. Seeking jobs as a song and dance man, his father moved the family there to find work. Unable to find a job, Charlie's dad left to go work on the railroad. He had to travel long distances and was gone a lot of the time. In the end, he left the family altogether and Charlie's mom had to provide for the two of them. Some times, she worked two or three jobs to give Charlie everything he needed and wanted. When his mom worked at night, Charlie would go out and listen to jazz around town.
He learned to play the sax but it wasn't easy.
Charlie started playing an alto saxophone when he was twelve years old. He taught himself by listening to jazz musicians. He was able to play music and joined his first band when he was 14. Because he never had lessons or formal training, he often struggled playing music. Eventually, with proper training and practice Charlie mastered the basics. He memorized the records made by the tenor saxophonist Lester Young, until he could play them all from memory. Charlie claimed that he practiced up to 14 hours a day until he could play anything he wanted.
Charlie was different from other high school students.
Unlike other high school kids, Charlie spent his days practicing his sax and preparing for his performances with swing bands. At night, he would often visit Kansas City's jazz clubs to see famous performers. He was passionate about music as a young man.
Charlie wanted to play new sounds and rhythms.
Charlie moved to New York City after a short stay in Chicago. He found work playing in swing bands but started experimenting with his own style of playing. Late at night, he would gather with other musicians who to wanted to play fast-paced, fiery music. This jazz style would later become known as bebop.
Bebop was challenging and energetic.
At first many of the older jazz artists and fans disliked bebop. The unpredictable beats and lengthy improvisations departed from the smoother rhythms of swing music. For swing fans, jazz was music for dancing. Unlike swing, bebop was powerful music for listening. Its melodies and harmonies were more complex than the great majority of the music that preceded it.
Charlie was a brilliant musician.
Charlie was the genius behind bebop. The exciting pace and expressive solos of bebop won over the musical community. Other jazz musicians desired to play like Charlie. Luckily, he made many great recordings, and even played with a large group of violins, violas and cellos. To this day, much of jazz's language comes from what Charlie Parker played. Unfortunately, Charlie started using drugs and alcohol as a teenager in Kansas City and became addicted as an adult. His long time use of alcohol and heroin took over his life. Sadly, Charlie died when he was just 34 years old, a time when many artists are in their peak years.