American Masters

How Charlie "YardBird" Parker got his nickname

Preview: 08/17/1989 | 1m 51s  | Video has closed captioning.

Charlie Parker's nickname "Yardbird" came to be while he was on the way to a gig with some fellow musicians and involved a bird in a yard that had an unfortunate fate.

Aired: 08/17/89

Rating: NR

Buy Now:

Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning

Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Judith & Burton …

A front row seat to the creative process

NEW PODCAST

A front row seat to the creative process

How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought one of their iconic works to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, filmmaker John Waters, actor John David Washington, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."

SUBSCRIBE

More History Shows