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All the United States Missouri Kansas City Charlie Parker Memorial

Charlie Parker Memorial

This giant green head remembers one of America's jazz giants.

Kansas City, Missouri

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KrispyMac
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Charlie Parker Memorial   KrispyMac / Atlas Obscura User
Charlie Parker Memorial   KrispyMac / Atlas Obscura User
Charlie “Bird” Parker Plaza   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
Charlie Parker looking down over a stele that reads “BIRD LIVES”   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
5-20-23   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
  Ultimoed / Atlas Obscura User
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  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located next to the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, the Charlie Parker Memorial pays homage to one of the innovators of jazz music.

Charlie Parker was one of the most influential performers and composers of jazz music to have ever put his lips to brass. The fittingly brass statue of Parker's head is an 18 foot tall effigy that attempts to capture the musician in his most natural state: playing music. The downward tilted head has the closed eyes and pursed lips of the jazz musician in mid-blow, paying tribute to Parker's life-long devotion to the saxophone. The words, "Bird Lives" are inscribed in the base of the statue, recalling both his famous nickname and his eternal music which will ensure that his legacy survives into the foreseeable future. 

Related Tags

Giant Heads Statues Music Monuments

Know Before You Go

Located at 39.0919-94.5638.In a small park adjacent to the American Jazz Museum, the Memorial is the focal point of the park on East 17th Terrace.

Community Contributors

Added By

KrispyMac

Edited By

salmson2a2, memlaw57, Collector of Experiences, nldumm...

  • salmson2a2
  • memlaw57
  • Collector of Experiences
  • nldumm
  • Darrell Powers
  • ianlefk
  • Ultimoed

Published

September 22, 2013

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Sources
  • http://www.robertgraham-artist.com/civic_monuments/charlie_parker.html
  • http://americanjazzmuseum.org/exhibitions/charlie-parker-memorial/
  • Google Maps
  • https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/dms-decimal
Charlie Parker Memorial
1616 East 18th Street
Kansas City, Missouri, 64108
United States
39.091451, -94.562727
Visit Website
Get Directions

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Mutual Musicians Foundation

Kansas City, Missouri

miles away

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Photo of Kansas City

Kansas City

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