Charles Baird Parker, 61, of Lansdale, the sole surviving child of the jazz saxophone great Charlie "Bird" Parker, died Sunday, March 23, at Lansdale Hospital of kidney, liver, and respiratory failure. News of Mr. Parker's death was released by his attorney, Albert Oehrle.
Mr. Parker's father died in 1955 at age 34 while in mid-career as a jazz soloist. He helped create bebop, characterized by quick tempos and improvisation. His mother, Chan Woods, a dancer, died in 1999 at age 74 in Champmotteux [sic; Étampes], France. Many years ago, she wrote of her son: "The jazz world expected Baird to fill Bird's shoes. Those expectations almost destroyed him. Now he is a baker for his local Acme. He is not in need of the money, but he likes to work, and he's always liked to cook. I am very proud of him."
Mr. Parker had not been employed for many years. He received royalties from his father's copyrights.
He is survived by a daughter, Julie Ann, and a stepdaughter, Lesley Jane Leight.
Mr. Parker's sister, Pree, died as an infant. A half-sister [Kim Parker] also survives. Funeral plans were pending.
Published in the March 30, 2014 edition of the Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Charles B Parker
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1952
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1993), PA
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Judith A Parker [Charles' wife; reportedly died in 2009]
Birth Date: 1 Sep 1951 [I have been unable to locate Ms. Parker on the Social Security Death Index. T.N.]
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1995), PA
"Charles Baird Parker, 61, of Lansdale, died Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Abington Health–Lansdale Hospital. He was the fiancé of Andrea Styers and husband of the late Judith Parker, who died in 2009. Born August 10, 1952 in New York City, he was a son of the late Chan (Berg) and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Funeral arrangements are pending." Taken from this website: http://www.huffandlakjer.com/obituary/2467788
I believe the following refers to Chan Parker's first husband, Bill, who was a lyricist and partner of the Broadway composer Hank Beebe; see here: https://www.hankbeebe.com/about:
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: William Rosstine Heyer
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1926
Birth Place: Irvington Es, New Jersey
Death Date: Aug 1980
Father: William R Heyer
Mother: Frances Okun
SSN: 148169844
Notes: Jul 1942: Name listed as WILLIAM ROSSTINE HEYER; 30 Dec 1987: Name listed as WILLIAM HEYER
Household Members: Name Age
William Rosstine Heyer
William R Heyer
Frances Okun
New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018
Name: William R. Heyer
Gender: Male
Marriage License Date: 16 Feb 1948
Marriage License Place: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Spouse: Beverly D. Berg [aka "Chan Richardson"]
License Number: 4673
Household Members: Name Age
Beverly D. Berg
William R. Heyer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
Name: Kim Parker [the daughter of Chan and Canadian sportswriter Bill Anderson, aka Bill Facus (sp?); this, per Chan's autobiography "My Life in E-flat", pg. 24]
Birth Date: 22 Aug 1946
Address: Main St, Delaware Water Gap, PA - 18327
Mr. Parker's father died in 1955 at age 34 while in mid-career as a jazz soloist. He helped create bebop, characterized by quick tempos and improvisation. His mother, Chan Woods, a dancer, died in 1999 at age 74 in Champmotteux [sic; Étampes], France. Many years ago, she wrote of her son: "The jazz world expected Baird to fill Bird's shoes. Those expectations almost destroyed him. Now he is a baker for his local Acme. He is not in need of the money, but he likes to work, and he's always liked to cook. I am very proud of him."
Mr. Parker had not been employed for many years. He received royalties from his father's copyrights.
He is survived by a daughter, Julie Ann, and a stepdaughter, Lesley Jane Leight.
Mr. Parker's sister, Pree, died as an infant. A half-sister [Kim Parker] also survives. Funeral plans were pending.
Published in the March 30, 2014 edition of the Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Charles B Parker
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1952
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1993), PA
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Judith A Parker [Charles' wife; reportedly died in 2009]
Birth Date: 1 Sep 1951 [I have been unable to locate Ms. Parker on the Social Security Death Index. T.N.]
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1995), PA
"Charles Baird Parker, 61, of Lansdale, died Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Abington Health–Lansdale Hospital. He was the fiancé of Andrea Styers and husband of the late Judith Parker, who died in 2009. Born August 10, 1952 in New York City, he was a son of the late Chan (Berg) and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Funeral arrangements are pending." Taken from this website: http://www.huffandlakjer.com/obituary/2467788
I believe the following refers to Chan Parker's first husband, Bill, who was a lyricist and partner of the Broadway composer Hank Beebe; see here: https://www.hankbeebe.com/about:
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: William Rosstine Heyer
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1926
Birth Place: Irvington Es, New Jersey
Death Date: Aug 1980
Father: William R Heyer
Mother: Frances Okun
SSN: 148169844
Notes: Jul 1942: Name listed as WILLIAM ROSSTINE HEYER; 30 Dec 1987: Name listed as WILLIAM HEYER
Household Members: Name Age
William Rosstine Heyer
William R Heyer
Frances Okun
New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018
Name: William R. Heyer
Gender: Male
Marriage License Date: 16 Feb 1948
Marriage License Place: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Spouse: Beverly D. Berg [aka "Chan Richardson"]
License Number: 4673
Household Members: Name Age
Beverly D. Berg
William R. Heyer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
Name: Kim Parker [the daughter of Chan and Canadian sportswriter Bill Anderson, aka Bill Facus (sp?); this, per Chan's autobiography "My Life in E-flat", pg. 24]
Birth Date: 22 Aug 1946
Address: Main St, Delaware Water Gap, PA - 18327
Charles Baird Parker, 61, of Lansdale, the sole surviving child of the jazz saxophone great Charlie "Bird" Parker, died Sunday, March 23, at Lansdale Hospital of kidney, liver, and respiratory failure. News of Mr. Parker's death was released by his attorney, Albert Oehrle.
Mr. Parker's father died in 1955 at age 34 while in mid-career as a jazz soloist. He helped create bebop, characterized by quick tempos and improvisation. His mother, Chan Woods, a dancer, died in 1999 at age 74 in Champmotteux [sic; Étampes], France. Many years ago, she wrote of her son: "The jazz world expected Baird to fill Bird's shoes. Those expectations almost destroyed him. Now he is a baker for his local Acme. He is not in need of the money, but he likes to work, and he's always liked to cook. I am very proud of him."
Mr. Parker had not been employed for many years. He received royalties from his father's copyrights.
He is survived by a daughter, Julie Ann, and a stepdaughter, Lesley Jane Leight.
Mr. Parker's sister, Pree, died as an infant. A half-sister [Kim Parker] also survives. Funeral plans were pending.
Published in the March 30, 2014 edition of the Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Charles B Parker
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1952
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1993), PA
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Judith A Parker [Charles' wife; reportedly died in 2009]
Birth Date: 1 Sep 1951 [I have been unable to locate Ms. Parker on the Social Security Death Index. T.N.]
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1995), PA
"Charles Baird Parker, 61, of Lansdale, died Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Abington Health–Lansdale Hospital. He was the fiancé of Andrea Styers and husband of the late Judith Parker, who died in 2009. Born August 10, 1952 in New York City, he was a son of the late Chan (Berg) and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Funeral arrangements are pending." Taken from this website: http://www.huffandlakjer.com/obituary/2467788
I believe the following refers to Chan Parker's first husband, Bill, who was a lyricist and partner of the Broadway composer Hank Beebe; see here: https://www.hankbeebe.com/about:
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: William Rosstine Heyer
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1926
Birth Place: Irvington Es, New Jersey
Death Date: Aug 1980
Father: William R Heyer
Mother: Frances Okun
SSN: 148169844
Notes: Jul 1942: Name listed as WILLIAM ROSSTINE HEYER; 30 Dec 1987: Name listed as WILLIAM HEYER
Household Members: Name Age
William Rosstine Heyer
William R Heyer
Frances Okun
New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018
Name: William R. Heyer
Gender: Male
Marriage License Date: 16 Feb 1948
Marriage License Place: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Spouse: Beverly D. Berg [aka "Chan Richardson"]
License Number: 4673
Household Members: Name Age
Beverly D. Berg
William R. Heyer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
Name: Kim Parker [the daughter of Chan and Canadian sportswriter Bill Anderson, aka Bill Facus (sp?); this, per Chan's autobiography "My Life in E-flat", pg. 24]
Birth Date: 22 Aug 1946
Address: Main St, Delaware Water Gap, PA - 18327
Mr. Parker's father died in 1955 at age 34 while in mid-career as a jazz soloist. He helped create bebop, characterized by quick tempos and improvisation. His mother, Chan Woods, a dancer, died in 1999 at age 74 in Champmotteux [sic; Étampes], France. Many years ago, she wrote of her son: "The jazz world expected Baird to fill Bird's shoes. Those expectations almost destroyed him. Now he is a baker for his local Acme. He is not in need of the money, but he likes to work, and he's always liked to cook. I am very proud of him."
Mr. Parker had not been employed for many years. He received royalties from his father's copyrights.
He is survived by a daughter, Julie Ann, and a stepdaughter, Lesley Jane Leight.
Mr. Parker's sister, Pree, died as an infant. A half-sister [Kim Parker] also survives. Funeral plans were pending.
Published in the March 30, 2014 edition of the Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Charles B Parker
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1952
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1993), PA
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Name: Judith A Parker [Charles' wife; reportedly died in 2009]
Birth Date: 1 Sep 1951 [I have been unable to locate Ms. Parker on the Social Security Death Index. T.N.]
Address: 836 Girard Ave, Lansdale, 19446-5266 (1995), PA
"Charles Baird Parker, 61, of Lansdale, died Sunday, March 23, 2014 at Abington Health–Lansdale Hospital. He was the fiancé of Andrea Styers and husband of the late Judith Parker, who died in 2009. Born August 10, 1952 in New York City, he was a son of the late Chan (Berg) and Charlie “Bird” Parker. Funeral arrangements are pending." Taken from this website: http://www.huffandlakjer.com/obituary/2467788
I believe the following refers to Chan Parker's first husband, Bill, who was a lyricist and partner of the Broadway composer Hank Beebe; see here: https://www.hankbeebe.com/about:
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: William Rosstine Heyer
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1926
Birth Place: Irvington Es, New Jersey
Death Date: Aug 1980
Father: William R Heyer
Mother: Frances Okun
SSN: 148169844
Notes: Jul 1942: Name listed as WILLIAM ROSSTINE HEYER; 30 Dec 1987: Name listed as WILLIAM HEYER
Household Members: Name Age
William Rosstine Heyer
William R Heyer
Frances Okun
New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018
Name: William R. Heyer
Gender: Male
Marriage License Date: 16 Feb 1948
Marriage License Place: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Spouse: Beverly D. Berg [aka "Chan Richardson"]
License Number: 4673
Household Members: Name Age
Beverly D. Berg
William R. Heyer
U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
Name: Kim Parker [the daughter of Chan and Canadian sportswriter Bill Anderson, aka Bill Facus (sp?); this, per Chan's autobiography "My Life in E-flat", pg. 24]
Birth Date: 22 Aug 1946
Address: Main St, Delaware Water Gap, PA - 18327
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