1/4. Russell Davies pays tribute to the great saxophonist Charlie Parker , who died, aged 34, on 12 March 1955. Parker - aka Bird - nurtured his unique style first in Kansas City and then in New York City, where he developed the bop sound. He suffered a nervous breakdown in Los Angeles following addictions to both heroin and alcohol. Contributors include Dr Billy Taylor, Jay McShann, Ed Shaughnessy, Loren Schoenberg and others. Producer Graham Pass