Leo Parker

For the Roman Catholic bishop, see Leo Parker (bishop). For the jazz percussionist and composer, see Leon Parker.

Leo Parker, New York, May 1947

Leo Parker (April 18, 1925 – February 11, 1962) was an American jazz musician, who primarily played baritone saxophone.

Born in Washington, D.C., United States, Parker studied alto saxophone in high school, and played this instrument on a recording with Coleman Hawkins in 1944. He switched to baritone saxophone later that year when he joined Billy Eckstine's bebop band, playing there until 1946. In 1945 he was a member of the so-called "Unholy Four" of saxophonists, with Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons. He played on 52nd Street in New York with Dizzy Gillespie in 1946 and Illinois Jacquet in 1947-48, and later recorded with Fats Navarro, J.J. Johnson, Teddy Edwards, Wardell Gray and Charles Thompson. He and Thompson had a hit with their Apollo Records release, "Mad Lad".

In the 1950s, Parker had problems with drug abuse, which interfered with his recording career. He made two comeback records for Blue Note in 1961, but the following year he died of a heart attack in New York City. He was 36.

Discography

• Billy in the Lion's Den (King, 1957) with Bill Jennings
• Let Me Tell You 'Bout It (Blue Note, 1961)
• Rollin' with Leo (Blue Note, 1961)

With Coleman Hawkins

• Rainbow Mist (Delmark, 1944 [1992]) compilation of Apollo recordings

With Illinois Jacquet

• The Kid and the Brute (Clef, 1955)
• Illinois Jacquet / Leo Parker -- Toronto 1947 (Uptown Records 2013)
• Jumpin' at Apollo (Delmark, 2002)

With Dexter Gordon

• Dexter Rides Again (Savoy, 1945–1947 [1958])

References

Footnotes

General references

• Leo Parker at AllMusic