Full Name: Charles Christopher Parker
Born: August 29, 1920, in Kansas City, Kansas
Died: March 12, 1955, in New York
Married: Rebecca Ruffin, 1936; Geraldine Scott, 1943; Doris Snyder, 1948; and Chan Richardson, 1950; He had five children.
Nickname origin: There are two stories.
1. He lived "free as a bird."
2. When touring with Jay McShann, they accidentally hit a chicken (a yardbird) with their car and Parker made them stop to pick it up so he could have his landlady cook it for him.