Leo Parker
Background information
BornApril 18, 1925
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedFebruary 11, 1962 (aged 36)
New York City, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz
InstrumentsBaritone saxophone

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]

Early life

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

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

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

With Coleman Hawkins

With Illinois Jacquet

With Dexter Gordon

References

Footnotes
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Cerra, Steven. "The Forgotten Ones - Leo Parker". JazzProfiles. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
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