Lloyd Wilson III
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posted 6 March 2013 01:01 BST
Charlie Parker....early innovator...early death. One of the best. R.I.P |
Kwentado Moore Jr
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posted 5 November 2012 05:48 BST
It's a honor to be here Checking In, signing this Guestbook... My Grandfather once told me, "Charlie Parker is God"!!! My first name is Kwentado. Kwen plus Tado, Named after two warrior-type tribes outta Africa. Both meaning Bird. My Grandfather named my father Kwentado, I'm named after him, and I have a son who's named after me. So there's Kwentado Sr., Jr., and Kwentado the III. I'm 28 and started playing the Alto Sax as a child. I have sooo much history and stories from my Grandfather about, "Yard" that I can't mention here all at once. He has always been a part of my life and Grandfathers household. With pictures, concert programs, music, stories, and my name. It's as if he's a part of me. I would like to thank my Grandfather Mr. Raymond Moore El frm Detroit Mi, The persons responsible for creating this site, and all thats involved in the, "Bird Lives Movement"!!! |
archieRawlings
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posted 14 September 2012 02:31 BST
thanks to the memory of bird...from a long time fan. |
Kristal Parker
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posted 15 August 2012 00:45 BST
home page correction |
Kristal Parker
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posted 15 August 2012 00:41 BST
I am the daughter of Francis Leon Parker, son of the Immortal Bird and Rebecca Davis Parker. I am also a musician. I would like to thank all who have contributed positively to my family's legacy and kept it alive. I'm striving to achieve another musical revolution, like my grandfather before me. Any feedback/assistance is wanted, needed and most welcome. Thank you All! |
Daniel Harrison
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posted 14 June 2012 02:40 BST
Fantastic site! Heading to Kansas City to research his upbringing. Looks like you beat me to it! |
Viggo Simonsen
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posted 15 May 2012 12:15 BST
Just browsed through the gallery, finding photos new to me (amazing how they keep popping up)
Have you seen the one with Bird embracing the flight propeller blade?
My goodness, that man had charisma!
I sincerely cannot recall a public figure, exhibiting greater sweetness and innocence than Bird. Sure he was a complex character, with a lot of less enchanting sides - but his childlike magnetism is so evident from all those wonderful photos - supporting the many personal testimonies we know.
Viggo |
Viggo Simonsen
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posted 14 May 2012 14:50 BST
Being a great Parker-lover for more than half of my life, and incidentally also an alto-player, I really have to express my greatest appreciation for this site.
It is by far, the best web site on Parker. Well researched, well written, full of new and interesting details, very well designed - but above all, with a clear personal touch of love and dedication to the one of the greatest musical geniuses of the 20th century.
Big thanks and congratulations to the author and web master.
Regards Viggo |
Fran M
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posted 27 April 2012 00:01 BST
Thank you soo much for this excellent collection; "Bird Lives". |
cruithneach
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posted 19 March 2012 13:17 BST
I got bird flu. Bankers rule the world then put a price on things the creator put here for free forcing us to fight each other for scraps and torture the artists to death, they and the politicians display all the symptoms of psychopathology & for a very good reason,they are psychopaths, and everyone just lets them do it and when they say join the army & go kill people do it.they lie continually but people trust them.you gotta sedate yourself in a world full of psychopaths and morons or go ***** en nuts.Bukowski said it very well in "the genious in the crowd".The other thing is respect for the dead but no one respects em when theyre alive and when theyre dead, well to me thats just a tad too ***** in late.He played well & cut out early, in a place where they nail people like jesus to a tree but worship cash and powerful psychopaths,i cant say I blame him. |
Simon
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posted 2 March 2012 06:24 BST
BIRD! Not much more can be said about him. HE'S THE GREATEST!! BIRD LIVES!!! |
George Geisler
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posted 7 February 2012 04:49 BST
"Ko-Ko" blew my minds. Then "Just Friends" Bir's life is still a tangle. I would love to see his "real horn" |
mark montgomery
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posted 9 November 2011 06:08 BST
love this site, great photos and info, I wondered if anybody has seen a pic of the painting charlie painted of him and chan, sold at auction? i have been searching and cannot find a pic of it, if you know please respond, m.montgomery@musician.org - thanks, mark montgomery |
rudy tucich
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posted 28 August 2011 18:39 BST
BIRD STILL LIVES !!! |
Wasaburo Miura
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posted 6 August 2011 15:28 BST
My URL was changed. |
claudia barkley
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posted 6 April 2011 23:33 BST
I have watched BIRD'S movie 3 times. I never heard of him until then. I enjoyed the movie very much. I've been very interested in his live. What have become of his children? Has any of them continued on his work in music? |
Jackson
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posted 3 March 2011 04:24 BST
good site  |
David Fishel
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posted 10 February 2011 02:30 BST
Thanks for this excellent website. Hearing a Bird album for the first time at the age of 14 was an electrifying experience. It led me to a career as a musician and radio broadcaster. To my ears, Bird was THE greatest of them all! |
drinks
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posted 7 February 2011 08:07 BST
So it should be exuberance and informative.Dreadfully sound gift |
Dr. W. Rivers
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posted 4 December 2010 22:18 BST
just want to thank you for keep this man spirit and life before the world, greatness should never be lost! |
pete gordon
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posted 27 August 2010 09:18 BST
where was this site when i was trying to learn everything bird |
Arthur Monroe
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posted 8 August 2010 20:00 BST
I was intorduced to Charlie Parker by the painter Harvey Cropper the year before he died in New York. Harvey is a painter now living in Stockholm, Sweden. Bird lived in Harvey's NYC studio where he tried his hand at painting. This is where the now famous painting of Pree - his daughter - was painted. Those days with Bird and "Nica"were wonderful, unbelievable and now unretrivable. I will never forget either of them or him especially... The work of this site is unfathomable. 3900B |
Patricia Hamby Shelby
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posted 2 August 2010 15:18 BST
I am so thankful and greatful to see this fantastic website about Charlie Parker and my great Aunt Rebecca Ruffin Parker. I'm the grand daughter of her sister, Ophelia Ruffin Hamby. It's great to see the great reviews of Charlie Parker and how he met my great Aunt. I'm looking for other relatives that can share more with me. Please contact me!! I have a facebook under Patricia R Shelby. |
john weaver
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posted 17 July 2010 18:46 BST
Bird is still beyond everybody. Read Dizzy's "To be or not to Bop" excellent! |
George Kennard
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posted 25 June 2010 17:39 BST
I think it was poet Adrian Mitchell who wrote the following:
He breathed in air, He breathed out light. Charlie Parker was my delight. |
Rodney Lancaster
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posted 22 June 2010 01:15 BST
Dear Sirs:
Very informative web site and memorial to Mr. Parker.
Thanks,
Dr. Rodney Lancaster |
Donna
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posted 18 January 2010 20:04 BST
Thank you so much for this great web site. Bird is fantastic! |
Levent
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posted 1 January 2010 21:24 BST
hi all. i am engineering student in a university in Turkey.in this semester i take History of Jazz lecture. i had no idea about BIRD before i take this course. at the end of all hours , teacher was opening some videos about the history of Jazz and most of them are related to BIRD. THIS MAN IS INCREDIBLE. I CAN FEEL WHAT HE WANTS TO GIVE WHICH EMOTION TO US... MAY BE I MET HIM VERY LATE , BUT FROM NOW I AM HIS PASSIONATE FUN FOREVER...... thanks for this site.. Hugs from Turkey.. |
joyce&JohnnieFoster
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posted 9 September 2009 05:46 BST
Hello, we are relative to Oliver Todd and we know you and Oliver was relative. My Great grandmother was a Duckworth that married a Gates. We are from kansas Also. Oliver Todd is my Uncle, my Grandmothers Brother. Bernice his wife has all your pictures of you and Uncle Oliver. |
Wes
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posted 31 August 2009 07:52 BST
Thank you so much for this website! I learned about Bird's life from this page, and it really helped me get into his head. I'm listening to, and playing more Bird then ever now, and I love it. This site deserves much more recognition than what it's getting. |
tonio
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posted 16 August 2009 22:19 BST
Thank you!! |
najponk
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posted 12 August 2009 17:25 BST
BIRD is the most influential musician of the 20th century! Get all those classic SAVOY,DIAL and VERVE recordings! BIRD LIVES!!!! |
Torsten Johansson
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posted 2 August 2009 18:58 BST
Member |
Augusto Dettori
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posted 6 May 2009 20:48 BST
Just this: if enyone want mail me for a go about jazz can do it.
Asibiri (Sardinian) Arrivederci (Italian)
Ciao |
Augusto Dettori
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posted 6 May 2009 20:41 BST
Great site for a really great musician. Bird's sax is the most emotional sax I ever heard. ... not many word to say... just listen...
Thank's a lot - Augusto |
Michel Trepp
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posted 19 April 2009 02:46 BST
long live the yardbird |
Ralph DeLuca
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posted 2 March 2009 05:16 BST
What a great site!! I have spent hours on here the last few days, especially looking at all the image galleries. Keep up the good work. I was wondering if anyone here has ever seen an original cardboard boxing style concert posters showing a picture of Parker? I have been looking for years but never found one. I would happily pay $15,000 or more for the right poster, and would even give a finders fee to someone who can help me get one. Please feel free to call me toll-free anytime at 800-392-4050.
Thanks Ralph DeLuca Madison NJ |
Don Brown
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posted 1 February 2009 16:18 BST
You've got a great site here, Llew. I was pleased that you saw fit to include my Massey Hall piece from Marc Myers' JazzWax. Keep up the good work. |
David Rosier
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posted 30 January 2009 02:24 BST
I first heard Bird when I bought a used 78 of Yardbird Suite backed with (I think) Night In Tunisia on the British Esquire label, in about 1954. After being blown away by what I heard I brought some more 78's. I've often wondered why? After all I was 17 years old, loved music but had no background or understanding of what I was listening to. It just sounded right. 50 years plus later I have most of Bird's recordings and am still amazed by his ability to tell wordless stories with his horn. I love listening to all kinds of music but Bird was just unique. It's unfortunate that most music fans will never hear Bird or even hear of him. But since we now have the internet, the opportunity is there to pass on the legacy of a musical genius, whose work will be appreciated by future music lovers. |
Anthony
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posted 10 December 2008 23:24 BST
Fantastic site to a fantastic man. One thing I did not see were any photos of the 'Bird Lives' graffiti that started appearing in NY after his death. I have been looking for a such a quality print formy studio for months. |
robski
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posted 5 November 2008 19:13 BST
what a great site about the most outstanding saxplayer ever..i love birdjazzzzzzzzzzzz tnx |
michael randerson
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posted 27 June 2008 13:21 BST
can anyone help i have a large plaque entitled ,the jazz corner, below a relief outline of parker and below the word ,Birdland, Bought in the U.K. but does anyone know the origin. About 2ft by 2ft appears to be plaster and obviously hung in a jazz club |
Ann Marie
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posted 22 June 2008 20:16 BST
Hello- Thanks for all the work on your lovely site! I am curious to know more about Mr. Parker's children. What happened to Baird? Is his first son still alive? What was their life like in the shadow of a legendary father?
Thanks! |
sebastian
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posted 15 May 2008 23:03 BST
Terrific site...could you add anything about Parker's scrapping abilities ? Did he like fighting ? Did he start on people in bars ? Did he ever get knocked out ? Keep up the good work ! |
dan
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posted 8 May 2008 21:43 BST
it goes without saying the greatest jazz musician, maybe the best of any genre. bird lives. As bob marley sang like three little birds on my doorstep singing sweet songs with melodies pure and true......He is the best sax player of all time and there will never be another bird. dan |
nad
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posted 7 May 2008 19:26 BST
he gave so much to humanity, his voice for me its like the birds in the sky, the rustling leaves from a breeze in the summer months, the mildew rain droplets on a blossoming flower. thou art as great and at times even greater than the very best of the classical great. for me, you are the first the last and everything on this instrument, the alto should have your name inscribed on it because you are 'it'. |
Elshad
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posted 4 April 2008 18:40 BST
This is the great site about Man who remained the same. Thanx for been frankly with us PARKER ALSO TO YOU my respectyfull site |
Stacy Pulliam
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posted 11 March 2008 10:05 BST
I could say a lot of things that so many people have said before. I could say some typical cliche thing and try to be hip. I could go on about my favorite Bird songs and how they have influenced me and the world. But that doesn't really sum it all up.But I can say I love Bird. He's in my heart. He's yours too. I hope you know that. Whoever you may be.
God Bless you and rest you Bird. |
Nadeem
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posted 8 March 2008 20:00 BST
at my primary school they never taught us about the ellingtons, armstrongs or dizzy miles or charles 'bird' parker. today after more than 15yrs having slowly found out my own way, bird along with them all remains with me, i will forever cherish and remember this man. i only wished at school they enver hid the truth, i hope that tomorrow bird and jazz musicians and the noble people are mentioned first. my mozart, bach and beethoven is dizzy, bird and all of them like this. thankyou sirs. for all time, you made my hear and my lfie much more compelte and happier. for all time, love u guys.! if i ever play music, you come to my mind and spirit first. |
hugo feliu
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posted 6 February 2008 15:30 BST
Impresionante su conocimiento de Parker, es lo mejor que he leido hasta el momento |
brian kinder
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posted 26 January 2008 16:43 BST
Bird Has lived with me for over half a century |
John Trallo
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posted 13 January 2008 00:11 BST
A lot of what I learned as a guitarist about soling, I learned from listening to Charlie Parker's music. |
Edgardo Falero
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posted 22 December 2007 18:21 BST
The first time I listen Bird of Paradise and Embraceable you, when I was in my teens, the emotion was so strong that it still remains in my heart like a religious feeling. Your web page is one of the best ways to maintain the genius of Bird alive . Is absolutely great , beatiful, with very clear information . It is a pleasure to read this pages, so I'm very, very happy to sign this guestbook from Uruguay, South América . |
Albert Schaap
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posted 10 December 2007 06:44 BST
What a great website! |
James Patrick
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posted 14 October 2007 22:51 BST
Many thanks for this wonderful resource. |
sara hunter
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posted 14 September 2007 20:25 BST
bird is so cool thanx for this website |
David Corwin
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posted 7 September 2007 15:24 BST
Thanks for keeping the flame burning! Avis Spiritus! |
Hank Hirsh
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posted 9 July 2007 22:05 BST
Can you imagine music today if Bird hadn't done his thing. we all owe him big. peace Bird Lives! |
benho6251
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posted 6 March 2007 15:05 BST
Thank you for this great website to honor Bird's legacy. |
Otto
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posted 11 January 2007 15:36 BST
Thank you for all this. |
Adam Mewherter
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posted 18 October 2006 08:50 BST
Very nice work on this site! "Bird Lives" |
Peter J Scott
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posted 5 September 2006 13:59 BST
Bird was for real - a musical genius - don't dilute this.
pjs |
stef
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posted 28 August 2006 18:49 BST
Bird's genius permeates jazz for every instrument. I play guitar but it's Bird's language that inspired me to understand jazz and to play it. I own everything Bird recorded, plus a lot of concerts, all the Philologies, Benedetti's, and everything recorded for the radio. You can't have enough of him if you love music. Bird is ... Bird. |
Jesse Barksdale
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posted 12 August 2006 07:45 BST
Also, bravo on the website, it is authentic and informative. |
Jesse Barksdale
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posted 12 August 2006 07:39 BST
Bird lives, indeed. And, still coming to terms with his genuis. |
onye olum
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posted 16 July 2006 12:02 BST
i love this site keep offfffffffffffff |
Jerry Murray
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posted 1 July 2006 07:27 BST
THE BADDEST HORN PLAYER EVER
BIRD LIVES
VIEW THE MOVIE BIRD |
Jerry Murray
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posted 1 July 2006 07:25 BST
THE BADDEST HORN PLAYER
BIRD LIVES |
Brian D.
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posted 29 June 2006 04:00 BST
Thanks for making this great resource available for all of us birdlovers. Keep up the wonderful site. |
Hank Hirsh
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posted 8 June 2006 22:28 BST
This is a great site. I thought I had seen all the pictures of Bird, but I am joyously overwhelmed here. Bird shaped my life with his music. No musician has had more of an influence. There isn't a saxophone player on earth who doesn't owe Bird something.
thanks for this site
peaceful |
Aaron Bedell
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posted 4 June 2006 22:26 BST
I discovered Bird two years ago, and ever since I cannot listen to his music enough. Bird's music is truly inspiring. Thanks for your pictures, interviews and information on Charlie. |
JrL
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posted 25 May 2006 17:00 BST
My experiences on this site have been happy. Then I saw Brian's entry about no-one being around Charlies grave on the 50th and I felt very sad indeed. I bet some people turned up that day though. Strange you can have feelings for someone who died before you were born?
Must take a genius to do that.
Thanks for a wonderful website, this man must be remembered.
JrL |
a.d.nicholson
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posted 1 May 2006 00:02 BST
fabulous information about a genius too tragic and too good for an unappreciative world.
Reply: Amen! |
brian
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posted 3 April 2006 00:00 BST
just found this site. this is a little out of date, but here goes. my wife and i went to kansas city in march 2005 to mark the 50th anniversary of bird's passing. we went to the gravesite on march 12, 50 years to the day. no-one was there. we put some flowers on the grave, and all we could hear were the birds singing - very poetic. that night we went to a night club and met a gentleman who had played in the high school orchestra with bird. also spoke on the phone with a man who had repaired bird's alto when he passed through town. |
Kazz
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posted 2 April 2006 00:00 BST
Very interesting website. Good work. |
Daniel McNamara
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posted 28 March 2006 00:00 BST
Thank you |
daniel
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posted 28 March 2006 00:00 BST
nice |
George Ziskind
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posted 3 March 2006 00:00 BST
Seeing so many "new" pics of Bird was truly a stunning experience. Some of them thrilled me, others - showing Bird in bad shape - broke my heart. |
Richard
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posted 28 February 2006 00:00 BST
Awesome site! Cool you have all these old interviews, there are even two I did not know before, so thanks for them! |
Michael Gleason
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posted 28 February 2006 00:00 BST
Great job at compiling a very interesting spectrum on Charlie Parker's life. I found the interviews to be especially revealing and seemed as if I was hearing him speak. I am currently reading the Ross Russell book, "Bird Lives" and your site enhances the book greatly. Thanks. |
gotto
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posted 28 February 2006 00:00 BST
thank's for encouragement Bird! today I have bought a second hand alto sax.... gotto |
Bryan C. Parker
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posted 13 January 2006 00:00 BST
yo i just wanted to give a big up on the work youve done on my grandfater i think its cool how people are paying respects to his memory and i just hope that more people who dont know alot about him would be educated by the material on the site...after all he is one of the pioneers, there were more than just Dizzie and Coltrane! By the way my son looks just like him when he was a boy. |
steven gluzband
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posted 31 December 2005 00:00 BST
This will be a great new year for bird's music to live on! i for one am spearheading a great project of Parker's music with cuban musicians! BIRD LIVES! |
Patricia Adams
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posted 20 December 2005 00:00 BST
Hello, Llew I want to take a moment and thank you for all of the time and effort you have spent in researching and developing this web site on Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. There is so much out there that is inaccurate, it is a real pleasure to see someone like yourself devoted to writing the accurate story. Your item on Charlie Parker will be printed in the "Historic Sites of Wyandotte County, Kansas" as soon as it is published. We are currently still getting articles on different sites and "proofing" what we have. Again, I sincerely thank you for your dedication and integrity. The best wishes for a healthy, happy Holiday Season to you and your family! Patricia Adams Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools |
David
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posted 18 December 2005 00:00 BST
Great Site! Check out my tribute to Jeff Buckley at www.mojopin.org |
James Fleet
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posted 27 November 2005 00:00 BST
Congratulations on your wonderful website. I believe Parker would be so honored. I can say this because I am the son of Biddy Fleet, the man who jammed with Bird on 'Cherokee' back in 1939. Bird's horn came alive forevermore as a result of these jam sessions and you are helping to keep his legacy alive. Bravo! |
Hans Bebop
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posted 27 November 2005 00:00 BST
Thanks for your link to me Charlie Parker and Jazz AT The Philharmonic website. Bird and the Jazz Lives. Hans Bebop. |
Dave Stonard
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posted 15 November 2005 00:00 BST
Hey,I thought I recognised the last picture of Ross Russell,it was taken at the Sotheby's sale,on my camera I believe and it is me standing next to him wearing my Bird Downbeat T-such is fame! |
Dave Stonard
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posted 4 November 2005 00:00 BST
Great site so much info in a short space with links to so much else.Thanks to Norman S for putting me on to it-another Birdbrain along with the rest of us |
Darryle Crawford
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
You Came Along From "Out Of Nowhere". And all of us ornithologist are happy you are here. Continue the good work. Bird Lives!!!!!!!!! |
Norman Saks
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
Your website is no doubt the best charlie parker site i've ever seen,keep up the good work.
Reply: Previously appeared on an older version of the guestbook |
Gareth Marr
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
all the things you are - you are one of the few who know the things that others need to know about the genius of Bird - he still lives through you. hope the books i left help with the research - will keep dipping in to improve my ornithological knowledge. love G
Reply: Previously appeared on an older version of the guestbook |
Rex Djere
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
Wow! Your website is incredible! My website is www.saxtalk.com. Keep up the great work.
Reply: Previously appeared on an older version of the guestbook |
marcel gärtner
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
congratulations!!!!!! just discovered your wonderful work at this web site. just wonderful! good design and fine photos. the writing is also marvelous! 50 years after bird´s death there is everytime something new to discover about the bird! go on with this beautiful work of love! keep boppin´ marcel |
Wasaburo Miura
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
This is the website of a wonderful Parker. Please see the site of my Parker collection. And please give me a link. Charlie Parker Society of Japan: http://parkerjp.com Charlie parker Collection "The Bird's Legacy" http://members2.jcom.home.ne.jp/birdslegacy/ Thnk you!! |
John Higgins
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
I am glad to see a site dedicated to the greatest sax player to ever walk the Earth |
Chris Krasnichuk
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
Love the site, lots of info thanks! |
John Burton
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
Lifelong Birdbrain!
Reply: Interesting comment from the author of probably the most definitive Charlie Parker discography on the internet!! |
Brunton L. Jenkins
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
Great work!
Reply: Previously appeared on an older version of the guestbook |
Robert Hook
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posted 28 September 2005 00:00 BST
You have a very fine website. If you'd like to include a page that might give students information on where to find tran--script--ions of solos, please let me know. Thanks again
Reply: Previously appeared on an older version of the guestbook |