Chan Parker
Encyclopedia
Chan Woods well known as Chan Parker, was a wife of jazz
musician Charlie Parker
and later musician Phil Woods
.
Woods was born Beverly Dolores Berg in New York City
, New York
of partial Jewish ancestry. She was a dancer and jazz enthusiast. She met Parker in the 1940s, but their friendship did not become romantic until years later. As it developed, their relationship had to surmount several obstacles, not the least of which were Charlie's frequently ungovernable drug
and alcohol abuse
and the simple fact of sharing love across a racial divide that the society of the era was hugely invested in maintaining.
Woods complained that taxi
s would not pick Parker up because of his race, and mentioned that the two of them often attracted stares because their relationship was interracial
at a time when American society was still highly segregated. However, in the jazz world, which had long been integrated, it was not an issue. Woods indicated in her memoirs that Parker protected her, to a degree, from both these problems.
There were other strains as well. Their relationship was dealt a severe blow with the death of their daughter, Pree, a year and a week before Charlie Parker's own death.
After Parker's death in 1955, Chan married saxophonist Phil Woods and relocated to France
, where she spent much of the rest of her life. In her later years, she went on to write a memoir, My Life in E-Flat, which discusses her life with Charlie Parker. It was published in 1999, the year of her death, which occurred in Étampes
, France.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
and later musician Phil Woods
Phil Woods
Philip Wells Woods is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer.-Biography:...
.
Woods was born Beverly Dolores Berg in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
of partial Jewish ancestry. She was a dancer and jazz enthusiast. She met Parker in the 1940s, but their friendship did not become romantic until years later. As it developed, their relationship had to surmount several obstacles, not the least of which were Charlie's frequently ungovernable drug
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse eventually progresses to alcoholism, a condition in which an individual becomes dependent on alcoholic beverages in order to avoid...
and the simple fact of sharing love across a racial divide that the society of the era was hugely invested in maintaining.
Woods complained that taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
s would not pick Parker up because of his race, and mentioned that the two of them often attracted stares because their relationship was interracial
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
at a time when American society was still highly segregated. However, in the jazz world, which had long been integrated, it was not an issue. Woods indicated in her memoirs that Parker protected her, to a degree, from both these problems.
There were other strains as well. Their relationship was dealt a severe blow with the death of their daughter, Pree, a year and a week before Charlie Parker's own death.
After Parker's death in 1955, Chan married saxophonist Phil Woods and relocated to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where she spent much of the rest of her life. In her later years, she went on to write a memoir, My Life in E-Flat, which discusses her life with Charlie Parker. It was published in 1999, the year of her death, which occurred in Étampes
Étampes
Étampes is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southwest from the center of Paris . Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne department....
, France.