Weaving together firsthand accounts with new information and fascinating insights, Chuck Haddix draws a compelling portrait of a man who defined the term tragic genius. Like Armstrong, Ellington, Davis, and Coltrane, Charlie "Bird" Parker overcame humiliation and disappointment to become a transitional composer and improviser who influenced generations of musicians. But Bird also reveals the troubled man behind the music, showing how Parker's addictions and mental health struggles affected his life and career. Illustrated with never-before-seen images, Bird corrects the misinformation and myth about one of the twentieth century's towering musical figures.
