Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker

The definitive biography of Charlie Parker, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, from Stanley Crouch - a foremost authority on jazz and culture in America.

This book offers a bone-deep understanding of Parker's music and the world that produced it, drawing on interviews with peers, collaborators, and family members.

Through vivid storytelling and cultural insights, Crouch recreates Parker's Depression-era childhood, his early days in Kansas City, and his rise to transcend the music he mastered in New York.

The book also explores Parker's drug addiction and personal struggles, revealing an ambitious young man torn between music and drugs.

With the wisdom of a jazz scholar, cultural insights of an acclaimed social critic, and narrative skill of a literary novelist, Crouch illuminates this American master as never before.

Don't miss out on this unforgettable portrayal of Charlie Parker - get your copy today!