Leo Parker (April 18, 1925 – February 11, 1962)[1] was an American jazz musician, who primarily played baritone saxophone. Parker was the earliest baritone saxophonist to play bebop.[2]
Leo Parker | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | April 18, 1925 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | February 11, 1962 (aged 36) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instruments | Baritone saxophone |
Early life edit
Born in Washington, D.C.,[1] Parker studied alto saxophone in high school and played this instrument on a recording with Coleman Hawkins in 1944.[1]
Career edit
Parker switched to baritone saxophone in 1944 when he joined Billy Eckstine's bebop band, playing there until 1946.[1] In 1945, he was a member of the "Unholy Four" of saxophonists, with Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons.[1] He played on 52nd Street in New York with Dizzy Gillespie in 1946 and Illinois Jacquet in 1947-48,[1] and later recorded with Fats Navarro, J.J. Johnson, Teddy Edwards, Wardell Gray and Charles Thompson.[1] He and Thompson had a hit with their Apollo Records release, "Mad Lad".[1]
Personal life edit
In the 1950s, Parker had problems with drug abuse, which interfered with his recording career.[1] He made two comeback records for Blue Note in 1961, but the following year he died of a heart attack in New York City.[1] He was 36.
Discography edit
- Billy in the Lion's Den (King, 1957) with Bill Jennings
- Let Me Tell You 'Bout It (Blue Note, 1961)
- Rollin' with Leo (Blue Note, 1961)
With Coleman Hawkins
- Rainbow Mist (Delmark, 1944 [1992]) compilation of Apollo recordings
With Illinois Jacquet
- The Kid and the Brute (Clef, 1955)
- Illinois Jacquet / Leo Parker -- Toronto 1947 (Uptown Records 2013)
- Jumpin' at Apollo (Delmark, 2002)
With Dexter Gordon
- Dexter Rides Again (Savoy, 1945–1947 [1958])
References edit
- Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1908. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ Cerra, Steven. "The Forgotten Ones - Leo Parker". JazzProfiles. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- General references
- Leo Parker at AllMusic
- LeoParkerMusic.com - Fully detailed chronology, discography and biographical information.