Charlie 'Bird' Parker
/ˌtʃɑːli ˌbɜːd ˈpɑːkə(r)/
/ˌtʃɑːrli ˌbɜːrd ˈpɑːrkər/
- (1920-55) an American who greatly influenced modern jazz and helped to create the style of bebop. He played the saxophone and also wrote music. In the 1940s, he played with such musicians as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and 'Dizzy' Gillespie. His problems with drugs and alcohol led to his early death.