He worked for nine dollars a week as a dishwasher at Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, where pianist Art Tatum performed.

Parker had his musical breakthrough in New York in 1939. Playing through the changes on the song “Cherokee”, he discovered a new musical vocabulary and sound that forever shifted the course of music history.

The song begins with a harmonically ambiguous introduction but quickly transitions to B flat major at the top of Parker’s first solo chorus. At this point, the harmony is now based upon the chord changes of the song ”Cherokee” by Ray Noble. The ending material is very similar to the introduction and features an unexpected ending.

Rumors persist to this day about precisely who played trumpet and piano on Ko-Ko. Some claim it’s young Miles Davis who plays trumpet and Gillespie comping at piano, on both takes. Some claim Gillespie plays trumpet and, or instead of, piano.