The Death of Charlie Parker

[TheMillyan1]

Bop will never die so Bird must live!

[Obiwannabe]

Bird Lives...

[PREDINEFlorian]

But What is this version of Now's the Time ? And where and When ? Merci

[InsertName125]

How'd you like to be known as the juggler who killed Bird?

[theouter9]

does it matter how he died?? does it really matter?..the music...the music...the music...stop falling in love with you..lol...the music..even here..i see morons.lol

[MrFalconford]

its not that hard to figure out what kills the great ones, i believe its not being understood, bird and others have fallen prey to the fog and shelter of drugs their magic only makes them more human and capable of reaching those who will need them in the future

[boomerang905]

He died before I entered grade school but still I remember listening to my big brothers and sisters playing Autumn in New, Dancing in the Dark, Out of Nowhere. My God, this is how music began to define me. To say that I love him is an understatement. He shaped a great deal of my appreciation for his genre of music. He still lives.

[TheBlues088]

He was dead long before. He was a genious but self-destructive musician.

[7archangels2]

I simply love Charlie Parker..Bird lives!!

[decus69]

"If you tell a lie long and loud enough, people will eventually start to believe it"

[lovell123456789]

@decus69 aint that how the government operates!?lol!

[decus69]

@lovell123456789 thought i was quouting something from hitler but <Mingus did write as song called nazi usa -so guess ur right.

[SPARKYLOC11]

The identification of a master. A revolutionist in the shaping of new vision.

[jradsw]

the lick at 5:25-5:31 is sweet, and the endinding was just smooth. One of my favorite sax licks !

[S3aW3ed]

bird lives

[quagapp]

"...Every sound You can make making music Tough lips. This is no nightingale. ..............................­..............................­... Tough lips that cant quite make the sounds of love The language Has so misshaped them. Malicious afterthought. None of you bastards Knows how Charlie Parker died. And dances now in some brief kingdom (Oz) two phonemes That were never paired before in the language." Jack Spicer, from 'Language' (1963-1965)

[tommybrown187]

at the age of 34 huh? rothschild and them killed that man

[keybobrob]

@tommybrown187 lol.....nwo had their sights on him?...lol i hear u...lol

[oober349]

But Bird lives!

[jazzman23fly]

Thanks for all the inspiration you've given me and other young sax players. Playing your tunes have made me a strong jazz sax player. Thank you. Bird Lives!

[TheSaxaholic]

Bird lives!!

[chamane222]

Merci...,

[motherthirteen]

all the heroin didnt kill him, juggling did

[adolfogarrick]

bird lives

[waitsonwater94]

First of all, 'PhilistineTheArtLuvr', you're a fucking idiot. You don't know what you're talking about. Get the fuck off youtube. Thanks.

Second, I would like to point out a comment that has yet to get much credit from anyone, that I believe is worthy of some notice. 'mendocinoplayboy', thank you.

And third, fuck. Isn't he just absolutely phenomenal?

[Vebbster]

@waitsonwater94 totally, man

[iskate9988]

In my heart, he will never die...

[MrTheLighter]

he 'll never die..

[eltonej]

Right God gave him the talent not Heroin

[robertvideo]

Miles Davis said it long ago, and it is still true - Every jazz musician should get down on their knees every day and thank God for Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington

[jazzman21fly]

thanks for the inspiration you've given young sax players like me bird.

bird lives forever.

[beau5488]

Bird lives

[kaseyWtrumpet]

Bird Lives.

[dnzg66]

Bird Lives.

[Nathan00G]

What documentary is this from?

[starkeffect]

@Nathan00G "Jazz" by Ken Burns (episode 8). It's on Netflix streaming.

[RodolfoVeronese]

lol... I said ALMOST... this little detail is a tiny exception, lol...

[GReYSTOKE2012]

He died laughing...what a way to go Charlie.

[udongo106]

This was not to far after he was rehabilitated for substance abuse in Camarillo California 1946-47...

[kmc56]

Charles Parker was a very ill man. The glorifying of drug use or whatever does no one any justice. He was one of the many who were too bright for their own good. Call him a genius if you like, but Charles Parker was more than that.

[TomRichardson92]

I'm an 18 year old fusion Guitarist and i absolutely love Charlie Parker's Work. So inspiring and he was a great musician.

Bird lives

[Vitruvian42]

It would have been interesting to see how far he could have gone had he not taken so many drugs. Coltrane reached the peak of his career after he stopped his substance abuse, even though it still killed him.

[boxing1000]

@Vitruvian42 Well ,they have reached spheres that only few men ever will...

[TheMichaelJB]

@Vitruvian42 John Coltrane died from liver cancer in 1967, ten years after he kicked. You could certainly say that his liver was damaged from the years of heroin abuse prior to when he kicked, so I would tend to agree with you regarding your point that it still killed him. He certainly made his greatest music after he kicked, both live and in the studio. Interestingly enough, Parker had kicked prior to the sessions that gave us "Parker With Strings", but back slid shortly thereafter.

[mamatis]

BIRD LIVES

[fwasa000]

what's the song at the end

[Sestrierre]

@fwasa000 Now's the time

[imthebrother]

Being a real fan and devoter to the late great Charlie Parker made me realize how painful and deadly your life would end up like this if you abuse yourself into so many substances or addictions. Bird was and still the greatest man ever lived in the century. Had he lived, he could rock the world with his music right now. My thing is his death was like a conspiracy as opposed to Elvis, MJ, 2Pac, Monroe, Lennon, MLK, Bruce Lee, Dorothy Dandridge, etc.

[terrryc]

I guess that they could have ganged up on him and had him committed until a "cure" could take hold, but he would have started using again. Narcotics dealers should be crucified in public......

[612franklin]

Shaddup and Listen

[DrumzzKool]

@612franklin

Yeah, don't think, don't lay your uptight vibe on the music...just shut up and let it in.

[NoRosesForMe]

L♥ve you Bird. Always.

[kanats76]

bird lives.....

[16piller16lol]

bird...

[SharerVideo]

i died a little that day too

[imthewalrusssss]

bird lives...

[JordanLaurence]

I almost cried watching this video. So many people just don't understand.

[Saxy64]

Ah! Bird was friends with the Illuminati! Say it ain't so!

[cha5]

@Saxy64 Okay it ain't so, mainly because I don't believe in the anti-semitic conspiracy labeling of anyone with the name Rothschild, and also because "the illuminati" generally aren't all that fond of music that they would likely spend most of their lives writing a book about the lives of Bebop musicians like the Baroness did, and I'm an agnostic regarding religion in general although Bird's music is the closest I've come to anything inspirational.

[voiceberry]

What about the great narration from Keith David?

[Jellybeantiger]

I love Bird.

Didn't know he was born on my bday.

:-)

[caralhovoador]

BIRD LIVES

[Hadewijch]

Who on earth can give this "thumbs down"?!

I think it's great.

Thanks for posting it.

[bjngnut]

happy birthday Bird.

[bobsunda]

Bird lives

[KrushKrackKruck]

Which song is it at 5:10 anyway? Sounds like Savoy Recordings...

[TheJazzsaxophone]

@KrushKrackKruck its one of the versions of "Now's The Time"

[JohnDePaola]

Thank you Charlie, thank you for all the great

Music, we still celebrate you and listen to your music and learn ....... With much love and respect. Jd

[deterth]

such a beautiful jazz musician, it's a shame he died so young. R.I.P

[TheFlorianwittmann]

Bird Lives...

[blackflagnc]

Bird lives.

[spoppinow]

phillistinetheartluvr--your statement is just pure ignorance. have a clue about something before you make a sweeping statement about someone like that. you don't "understand" as you say because you have no idea what you are talking about. bird was one of the most creative, inventive, original and unique beings to ever grace this planet. why not honor that instead of your holier than thou judjements???

[kyle7447]

Bird lives

[MrMusicNerd101]

Bird Lives!!! its so sad how he passed away :'( His music still lives on because of its awesomeness!!

[figocooldude]

The greatest jazz ever was made by this man. BIRD LIVES!

[Coronas135]

God bless Charlie Parker and God bless his wonderful talent.His music is still loved, and thats why BIRD STILL LIVES!

[mendocinoplayboy]

He started using morphine in a hospital when he was very young, cirrhosis of the liver is not caused by opiates by the way, i'm not saying that heroin is good for you. Just remember, the music is what matters. He will be remembered while many of us writing these comments will not. Be humble folks.

[PhilistineTheArtLuvr]

Goodness, can you imagine if crack cocaine was available back then? Charlie Parker would not have blown a single note through his saxophone, if he even cared to have one.

I truly don't understand how some people can give up on life just because they can't get enough of some chemical substance. Absolutely bizarre.

[hiltrop1]

The bird my hero, why did you have to leave us so soon...

[NelsonWiggen8]

Bird was just the greatest. This video is interesting and creative.

[matoflash]

Bird lives. R.I.P, Charlie Parker.

Exactly 55 years ago, March 12, 1955...

[Skeedaddy91]

Thanks for all the things you gave the world, Charlie! R.I.P

[SharerVideo]

This was the end of twenty century music.

[vooptr]

What song is being played in the background?

[stalin378]

If you mean the song just prior to the ending of the video? "Now's The Time"

[vooptr]

Nah the slow jam at the beginning what is that tune?

[86panthers]

@vooptr

The song at the beginning is "Embracable You" by Charlie Parker in 1947.

[86panthers]

Pardon my spelling: "Embraceable You."

[Reap3r07]

thanks a lot, alcohol :P

[CoolCat2527]

Whats the name of the Documentary?

[Taylor186cd]

@CoolCat2527 - It's from the Ken Burns Jazz documentary

[staticviewer]

Unfortunately, genius is not a free ride.

[sentineladosol]

When he plays "Laura" I think a lot on him and this last times. His sax touch was and "is" so beautiful that make me cry, I swear... The tenderness put on every line and every solo is something that will never appear again... I like a lot of sax players but if you ask me who is...I'll say to you:...Bird. (God bless you little warm bird).......

[a11eyes]

live

[maybejones]

And the Gates opened and Bird walked on...but he left his footprint on Time!

[Exilatus]

You were a god, Bird, thanks.

[AssilalOmega]

we´re thinking of you bird ...r.i.p

god bless you bird

[septip123]

the bars of America are filled with half-talents on drugs...drunk...stumbling, thinking they are the next best thing.

[INeedAManifesto]

Right, but he wasn't one of them. He really was the best, even though he was indeed on drugs, drunk, and stumbling. The substances he took, well, many other people took also, trying to sound like Bird. It didn't work. Saying that the heroin is what made Bird great does a disservice to his talent.

[KrushKrackKruck]

@INeedAManifesto You're right I think, because unlike the evoking powers of LSD Heroin is benumbing and dulling your soul. However, sometimes when I listen to his music I feel like I'm hearing this indefinable, causeless happiness which seems to develop out of nothing with no reason and works for me as well while listening to it and I tend to compare this feeling to taking Heroin.

[94donnacone]

you hit the nail on the head.

[beats1969]

@INeedAManifesto wtf !!!

[RodolfoVeronese]

@INeedAManifesto Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most incredible musicians of ever without taking any substance. Indeed some musicians say his life was almost of a monk.

[blueyedboymrdeath]

@RodolfoVeronese Right, a monk with 7 children! Seriously, Bach's genius and productivity is hard to comprehend.

[septip123]

keith david's voice...perfect!

[aarfeld]

I'd say that he was a success despite the drinking and drugs--not because of them. Hard work and keen insight into the music is what made him a brilliant artist.

[HiMyNameis0BLANK0]

[aarfeld] And with the help of Monk

[aarfeld]

@HiMyNameis0BLANK0: Yes, Monk was there at Minton's helping to lay down the foundations of the the new music, but Monk quickly moved on beyond Be Bop to create a style that was uniquely his own.

[siwi6]

This is part of Ken Burn's film : Jazz ... this is the saddest part... Bird Lives!!

[alexalot23]

i recently heard a recording bird did of the song summertime. unbelievable! god blessed us all when mr. parker was born.

[queekers]

"Why don't you help me Diz? Why don't you help me?"

so sad :(

[flyhead2]

As tragic as his death was, it came as a blessing. He was a tortured spirit, his body and mind were failing, and worst of all for him, his music was dying too.

The tale of his tragedy was our enrichment, and his ultimate victory. He was, and still is, peerless.

[beats1969]

@flyhead2 best comment i read here !! thank you !!

[bopbopbobert]

Rest in Peace, Bird. THanks fo all the music!

[SharerVideo]

Bird Lives

[bkgangstapianist]

embraceable you good song.

[hubiesemos]

Bird lives

[ComicSaxProductions]

i just really paying attention and playing his music. if only he lived.....

[gladys8it]

Damn, just 34 years old? What a tragedy.

[ihateidiotcomments]

Yard Bird

[CerebralBeing]

His heritage lives!

[boobtuber06]

What's that trombone piece they're playing towards the middle?

2:37

[jazzluvr4u]

It's a Dorsey brothers tune. In a Sentimental Mood I believe!

[CrandMackerel]

"I'm Getting Sentimental Over You"

[bkgangstapianist]

isnt the first song Embraceable You?

Bird, Miles Davis, and company. from the album Bird Symbols

[MattieSongbird]

"I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" - Tommy Dorsey and is Orch.

[kjuergens1985]

What year was this made?

[colvinis]

I can't remember what that opening musical piece is. Anyone know?

R.I.P. Charlie Parker

[WithoutTheFezOn]

Embraceable You

[JazzmanJibilla]

And now Jackie's gone too.  So many empty spaces. :..(

[winsome1235]

Like most drug addicts when he couldn't find the drug he drank to excess. Drug addiction is always a tragedy as it alters the mind, body and personality of the user. Its amazing that he was able to function as well as he did under the circumstances to become one of the greatest saxophonists of all times.

[jazzybee1]

He basically had so much stuff going on in his life, he just self destructed. He knew he had a problem, but tried to justify one addiction with replacing it with another to cope with withdrawal. His body was so ravaged that the coroner thought he was in his 60s. But Charlie Parker, also lived up to his name, some "birds" were never meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright.

[Nikoz7Makaveli]

what had he all goin on in his life?

[lorenzopetrocca]

bird....you are the mann!

[ritter89]

Poor Charlie. Life sucks....

[tjc197]

Nice playin' on "Now's The Time" at the end.

[ckala13]

I'm pretty sure the liver cirrhosis and the pneumonia had something to do with it too.

[kcderik]

but you learn to move on even when everything goes wrong... theres a way out if you stick to finding a solution, but unfortunately not everyone sees that......

[CARDMAN365]

REST IN PEACE BIRD.

[flafayette]

BIRD LIVES

[Cronopioslover274]

Julio F. Cortazar (1914-1984) dedicated to Charlie Parker his work "El Perseguidor" . Charlie Parker was one of his most favorite musicians. Very nice jazz!

[grossijohn]

All the greats die young...Bird, Trane, Rhasaan.  You gotta be lucky enough to catch them when you can. It's a gift from heaven above and most of us miss it. Happy New Year!

[mattg443]

only 34! So young

[BirdLives88]

same age as Mozart..a bit scary

[CardinalsFan8806]

Yes, but health care was awful in Mozart's days.

[willy4u4u]

Everything killed Parker.

[mochesax88]

charlie parker thanks you for your music!

[savida34e]

SO SAD.

[Vayshen]

This DVD series is very good.

We watch these every week at jazz history :)

[coronachilla]

Parker did his best work when he was sober, so sad if someone couldved helped him

[joevalu]

what a great talent...too bad he couldnt control himself...ya know what they say... no junk no soul

[Jivencat]

The song at 2:36 is I'm Getting Sentimental Over You which was Tommy Dorseys'theme song.

[jawkneeboy]

Could someone please tell me what song is playing at 2:36? It sounds so familiar.

[ProfessorPLR]

This sounds like a clip from Ken Burn's Jazz. The series had it's flaws, but considering the depth of the subject, he made a very admirable effort.

[phizzstar]

This was a man of many faults but was he ever rich with creation.

[nico69l1]

is this taken from a documentary or what? is this from "bird now"?

[msoccerking123]

rip Charlie your the best

[InquietudEterna]

Tragic end for one of the jazz masters. He could never manage the fame properly, so drugs were his only escape in a cruel society. Damn racism! Damn drugs!

[crhambrick]

Parker's passing is truly the jazz world's loss but let's not lose sight of the fact that he did this too himself. If he was indeed the victim of a racist society (and who wasn't at that time), there wouldn't be any blacks left. Every one dealt with the pressures and struggles the best way they could and not everyone who made it through had a support system. Some people are stronger than others, but before you ask others to save you, you have to make an effort to save yourself.

[ghostofdolphy]

Alcohol killed Bird, combined with a lack of a support group.

John Coltrane was inspired by his wife and her religion. AND he had a place to go for two weeks to kick cold turkey.

Miles Davis also had the good fortune to have a guest house belonging to his father to kick.

Bird didn't have that. Bird might not have been strong enough as well, but everyone that did kick, had a place to seclude themselves.

Sonny Rollins is one too.. Bird self medicated with drinking, which is what killed him.

[almanacofsleep]

It also depends if he had any mental issues as well, I know of many people who use drugs and achohol to self medicate.

[piservices]

Racism hard times and the struggle to make it from day to day is what eventually kills so many of our greatest Black artist and drugs become an escape mechanisim unfortunately. Charlie Parker was a victim of the racist society that still survives to this day.

[Hotmanprodigy]

"Saori Yano" plays just like Bird

did. She's the closest one yet that I've heard

[TeeDub106]

I've heard this story re-told numerous times and yet each time it breaks my heart each time I hear it. What a tragic loss. I'll always wonder what would he have done musically had he lived? What a tragic loss. Dead at 34....

[KidHum]

what if he was out of stuff

what if he was 84 years old doing half time duets with the piano player from Coldplay...

[almanacofsleep]

Lets not think about something as horrible as that!

[ProfessorPLR]

Well, look what happened to Miles? He ended up playing Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson covers. Granted Jazz has always embraced standards of the day to improvise to.

[KidHum]

that was the 80's though

Miles was about to get into some Hip Hop shit, which would have probably been pretty cool.

Except for that its hard to make a good Hip Hop track any sort of extended trumpet solo in it.

But if he had rapped... he would have sounded like Keak Da Sneak, haha

[iHipHop]

lol@Keak!

Miles wouldn't rap, he would probably simply fuse the two.

Plus, Miles was an ever-changing man. He wasn't the type to live in a box. Who knows what he'd be doing? Its a lot easier to grasp what Charlie would be doing

[yahtzeek9]

Charlie would have eventually went to country music. He loved the stories.

[hmtierney]

No way. The is no comparing jazz to country. They are two different worlds.

[Azac22]

Miles did get into hip-hop.....check out Doo-Bop produced by Easy Mo Bee. (Miles' last album.)

[zsylvana]

Me too!BUT it´s true like it stand at the Wall!BIRD LIVES!He shure do!