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Charlie Parker
Charlie "Bird" Parker (August 29, 1920- March 12, 1955) was a famous jazz saxophonist who made huge contributions to jazz music.Born in Kansas City, Kansas and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Parker grew up listening to jazz bands like Count Basie and Bennie Moten.
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Parker moved to New York City and, with Dizzy Gillespie, was critical in the development of bebop.
Charlie Parker was responsible for a complete change in direction of melodic improvisation in regards to chromatisism, which had hitherto been largely ignored. Prior to Bird, jazz improvisation was largely based on arpeggionic flurries or the paraphrasing of melodies.
Parker was addicted to heroin for most of his life and died early.