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Charlie Parker (I) (1920–1955)

Soundtrack | Music Department | Composer

Charles Christopher Parker Jr. was born on August 29, 1920, in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, to Charles Parker Sr. and his 18-year-old wife Addie. His father ran out on the family when Charlie was just a little boy. When he was 11 his mother bought him an alto saxophone for his birthday. By the time he was 15 Charlie was working as a musician in the flourishing Kansas City jazz scene... See full bio »

Born:

in Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Died:

(age 34) in New York City, New York, USA
1 photo | 91 news articles »

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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideSoundtrack (28 titles)
2010 Edge of Darkness (performer: "Embraceable You")
 
2009 Transmissions (performer: "Crazeology")
 
2008 Roland Kirk: Live in '64 & '67 (video) (music: "Blues for Alice")
 
2008 Grand Theft Auto IV (Video Game) ("Night and Day")
 
2006 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (writer: "Segment" 1949)
 
2005 Capote (writer: "My Little Suede Shoes" 1951)
 
2002 Crossing Jordan (TV series)
– Someone to Count On (2002) (performer: "Embraceable You" - uncredited)
 
2000 Joe Gould's Secret (performer: "The Nearness of You")
 
1999 The Talented Mr. Ripley (writer: "KO-KO" / performer: "KO-KO")
 
1997 The Last Time I Committed Suicide (writer: "Shaw 'Nuff'" / performer: "Shaw 'Nuff'", "Groovin' High")
 
1997 The Ditchdigger's Daughters (TV movie) (performer: "Lover Man")
 
1997 Love Jones (writer: "Parker's Mood" / performer: "Parker's Mood")
 
1996 Basquiat (writer: "Koko" / performer: "Koko", "April in Paris")
 
1995 Se7en (writer: "Now's the Time" / performer: "Now's the Time")
 
1993 Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music (documentary) (writer: "Ko-Ko" / performer: "Cool Blues")
 
1992 The Last Days of Chez Nous (writer: "Donna Lee")
 
1992 Mac (performer: "LAURA")
 
1991 The Marrying Man (writer: "YARDBIRD SUITE" / performer: "YARDBIRD SUITE")
 
1989 How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired (writer: "Cool Blue")
 
1988 Bird (performer: "Lester Leaps In", "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me", "Ornithology", "Lover Man", "April in Paris", "All of Me", "Now's The Time", "Cool Blues", "Laura", "This Time The Dream's On Me", "Ko Ko", "Parker's Mood")
 
1987 Sign 'o' the Times (documentary) (writer: "Now's the Time")
 
1986 The Color of Money (performer: "I'll Remember April")
 
1986 'Round Midnight (writer: "Now's The Time")
 
1980 Joe Albany... a Jazz Life (documentary) (writer: "Ornithology", "My Little Suede Shoes", "Billie's Bounce", "Confirmation" / performer: "Ornithology", "Embraceable You", "My Little Suede Shoes", "Billie's Bounce", "Confirmation")
 
1977 Sorcerer (performer: "I'll Remember April")
 
1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village (performer: "Confirmation")
 
1964 Jazz 625 (TV series)
– Cleo Laine (1964) (writer: "Big Foot", "Dewey Square")
– The Johnny Scott Quintet (1964) (writer: "Donna Lee")
 
1946 Jivin' in Be-Bop (documentary) (writer: "Shaw 'nuff" - uncredited, "Ornithology" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowMusic Department (3 titles)
1999 Dresden (composer: song "Big Foot")
 
1992 George Shearing: Lullaby in Birdland (video) (music: "Donna Lee" and "Moose the Mooche")
 
1971 Murmur of the Heart (composer: stock music)
 
Show ShowComposer (2 titles)
2004 Una anciana asturiana (short)
 
1989 Le goût de plaire (short)
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
1991 Great Performances: Dance in America (TV series) (tribute - 1 episode)
– Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Steps Ahead (1991) (tribute - segment "For Bird - With Love")
 
Show ShowSelf (2 titles)
2004 Improvisation
Himself
 
1989 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker (1989) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (9 titles)
2001 The Miles Davis Story (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1997 The Fifties
Himself (plays with Dizzy) (uncredited)
 
1995 Masters of American Music
Himself
 
1989-1993 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
1993 Great Performances (TV series)
 
1993 Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music (documentary)
Himself - Performer
 
1986 What Happened to Kerouac? (documentary)
Himself
 
1979 The Last of the Blue Devils (documentary)
Himself
 
1977 All You Need Is Love (TV series documentary)
 
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Personal Details

Other Works:

Innovative jazz alto saxophonist and composer. See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie  | 2 Print Biographies  | 4 Articles  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Charlie 'Bird' Parker
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Along with trumpet legend Dizzy Gillespie, he created the sporadic rhythms known as "be bop" in the 1950s. See more »

Nickname:

Yardbird See more »

Star Sign:

Virgo