Charlie Parker, the pioneering bebop saxophonist, died in 1955.
Parker died in New York City on March 12, 1955, at age 34. He had been suffering from serious health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver and heart disease. His death ended the life of one of the most influential musicians in twentieth-century jazz.
Known by the nickname “Bird,” Parker helped develop bebop during the 1940s alongside musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, and Max Roach. His fast, harmonically sophisticated improvisations changed expectations for jazz soloists, especially on alto saxophone.
Parker’s short life has sometimes led to confusion about the exact year of his death, particularly because many important recordings and performances came during the previous decade. His musical influence continued long afterward through recordings, transcriptions, and compositions based on the chord progressions of earlier standards.