Charles Christopher Parker, Jr., was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City, KS.

Bird's life was as difficult one. He started to use drugs and use alcohol. Parker's drug use was something he tried to control, but was never able to. At 15 year old, Bird dropped out of high school and married Rebecca Ruffin. In 1938 his first child was born.

During the next few years Parker studied music from a lot of the older musicians. He worked very hard, it was in 1939 that he found his niche and helped a new sound to evolve in the world of jazz.

An alto saxophone player, he was one of most powerful forces behind the "New Age of Jazz." Bird, as he was affectionately known, was one of the most sought-after musicians of his time. The clubs and coffee houses filled with people who wanted to hear this new "bebop" sound.

The Bird legend lives on today. Young jazz musicians still talk about "Bird". Bird's musical genius lives on.