Leo Parker (April 18, 1925 – February 11, 1962)^[1] was an American jazz musician, who primarily played baritone saxophone. Parker was the earliest baritone saxophonist to play bebop.^[2]

Born in Washington, D.C.,^[1] Parker studied alto saxophone in high school and played this instrument on a recording with Coleman Hawkins in 1944.^[1]

Parker switched to baritone saxophone in 1944 when he joined Billy Eckstine's bebop band, playing there until 1946.^[1] In 1945, he was a member of the "Unholy Four" of saxophonists, with Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons.^[1] He played on 52nd Street in New York with Dizzy Gillespie in 1946 and Illinois Jacquet in 1947-48,^[1] and later recorded with Fats Navarro, J.J. Johnson, Teddy Edwards, Wardell Gray and Charles Thompson.^[1] He and Thompson had a hit with their Apollo Records release, "Mad Lad".^[1]

In the 1950s, Parker had problems with drug abuse, which interfered with his recording career.^[1] He made two comeback records for Blue Note in 1961, but the following year he died of a heart attack in New York City.^[1] He was 36.

As leader or co-leader

• 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)
• Leo Parker: The Late Great King of the Baritone Sax (Chess, 1971)

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])

Footnotes

General references

• Leo Parker at AllMusic
• LeoParkerMusic.com - Fully detailed chronology, discography and biographical information.