No More Racist City in the US Than Kansas City, Missouri

Lonnie McFadden asks an excellent very legitimate question on the PBS program, "Bird: Not Out of Nowhere."

Who had more to do with Kansas City-- Bird, Charlie Parker or Winston Churchill? But who has a statue on the Plaza? A city divided. Literally divided. Badly, badly divided. We need to fix that.

A Question for you, Kansas City

Yes, I have a question for you, Kansas City.

Count Basie and Charlie "Bird" Parker are both from here, both from Kansas City.

Why is Winston Churchill the only one on the Country Club Plaza?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Charlie Parker, On This Day

On this day, April 30, 1941, Kansas City's own Charlie Parker solos for the first time on Decca Records.

      Charlie Parker solos on Decca recordings

As a member of Jay McShann's orchestra, Charlie Parker has his first commercial recording session in Dallas, TX for Decca Records. Playing the alto sax, he solos on 'Swingmatism' and 'Hootie Blues.' He also earns his famous nickname 'Bird' around this time.

Links:

Charlie Parker

Jay McShann

Charlie Parker - Songwriter, Saxophonist - Biography

Charlie Parker

http://charlieparkermusic.com