I posted this on the EM MySpace blog and thought I should post it here as well

This past weekend I did something I have wanted to do for years but for one reason or another have never gotten the opportunity to do. I have always wanted to go to Kansas City, Missouri. I have always wanted to visit the American Jazz Museum, the Negro Baseball League Museum, see a Royals game, the famous 18th and Vine district best known for all the great jazz that has been played there. But most of all, I wanted to go to Kansas City because it is the final resting place of Charlie Parker.

Years ago, there was a debate in Kansas City over whether the grave of Charlie Parker should be moved from the obscure location of Lincoln Cemetary to a more accesible locale around the 18th and Vine district. Many musicians and fans feel that Lincoln is not a proper burial site for Bird and that he should be somewhere where people who come from all over the world can easily find him and pay their respects.

This past Saturday morning, I left my hotel room with several objectives, the first and most important one being to visit Bird. My mapquest directions told me that the cemetary was only ten minutes away from my hotel. Great, I thought. I’ll visit Bird, hit the museums then go to the game. I followed the directions on the map, but the cemetary was not as easy to find as I thought it would be. Back and forth I drove down the same street in search of Lincoln Cemetary. I even stopped three different people and asked them where the cemetary was. None of them knew. In fact, two of the people I asked were actually half a mile from the cemetary and they didn’t have a clue. For two hours I drove around the same five mile radius searching for Bird. I didn’t care. It could have been four hours. I wouldn’t have stopped searching. But I was getting frustrated. The morning turned into afternoon and I wondered if all my other plans would fall by the wayside as I knew that if I didn’t find Bird’s grave site, the whole trip would be a failure for me.

I drove and drove. In fact, I came across two other cemetaries during my search. Finally, I became so frustrated, I just decided to take this little side street and see where it lead me. I turned and within seconds I saw a sign. The closer I got to it, the more elated I became until finally I could make out the words on the sign. “Lincoln Cemetary - Resting Place of Charlie “Bird” Parker”

Sitting quietly amongst a grove of tall trees and shade was the grave of Charlie Parker. Right next to him was the grave of his dear mother Addie. I had found it. Within this tiny cemetary a legend was laid to rest. The place was so peaceful, so quiet that there were even a few deer grazing nearby. To me, it was the perfect place for Bird to be. Even more perfect was the fact that I was there all alone. For a few precious minutes I had time alone with the man who changed the way I looked at the world and at music.

I knelt down to the ground and brushed away the few twigs and pebbles from the tombstone and I placed my hand on the cool marble. Silently, I began thanking Bird for what he had given me, for introducing himself to a fifteen year old kid and completely rearranging his view of the world around him. And just then (and I swear this is true), a black bird flew by my head so close I could hear the beat of its wings against its breasts, and it settled into a tree nearby and watched me. Now, I’m not saying Bird heard me or that that was some kind of sign. But I will say that I will never forget that moment. And if you love Bird as much as I do, I think you understand why I feel that way.

Should Bird’s grave be moved? I can understand why some would want it moved. But for several reasons, I feel he should remain where he is. For one thing, if you move Bird you must move his mother as well. They should always remain together. Secondly, 18th and Vine is a nice area, but busy, especially with tourist traffic. Lincoln Cemetary, while not large or overly impressive is quiet, serene. There are no honking horns or constant foot traffic. Only the chirp of birds, deer grazing nearby and the cool shade of those big, beautiful trees. Yes, Bird was hard to find, but for those who want to see him and thank him badly enough, his grave will be found.

I took pictures while I was there. You can view them here:

Resting Place of Charlie “Bird” Parker