Charles "Charlie" Parker, Jr. was an American jazz saxophonist and composer, one of the most influential and innovative figures in jazz history. He was a leading figure in the development of bebop, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. Parker was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1920. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 14, and by the early 1940s had emerged as one of the most promising young jazz musicians in the country. In 1944 he made his first recordings as a leader, and the following year he partnered with Dizzy Gillespie to form the seminal bebop group the Gillespie-Parker Quintet. Parker's playing was highly influential, pushing the boundaries of jazz improvisation to create a new and distinctly American sound. He was also a prolific composer, writing dozens of jazz standards including "Billie's Bounce," "Ko Ko," "Now's the Time," and "Ornithology." Parker died of a heroin overdose on March 12, 1955, at age 34. He was buried in Lincoln Cemetery in Kansas City. In honor of his contribution to jazz, the city of Kansas City has designated April 12 as "Charlie Parker Day."