10 Songs You Didn't Know Were About Heroin

Charlie "Bird" Parker is widely considered the greatest alto saxophonist of all time. He is credited as one of the founding pioneers of bebop — and known for his lightning fast lines and chordal improvising that changed jazz forever. He also battled heroin addiction most of his life and died broke at the age of 34.

Although "Embraceable You" isn’t technically a song about drugs, Parker’s infamous L.A. jam is the stuff of legend.

In the wee hours of 14 July 1952, a party had been raging all night in the foothills above Los Angeles. Held at the ranch home of Jirayr Zorthian, an eccentric, bohemian sculptor, the sprawling compound was known for its Caligula-esque bacchanals, attracting a mixed bag of artists, jazz musicians, intellectuals and hedonists.

Around 1 AM, Parker showed up totally wasted and soon began playing — and that’s when most of the party got naked — including "Bird". Amazingly, a recording of the informal session survived and features jazz greats Don Wilkerson and Frank Morgan. Although the quality is rough, the bootleg showcases plenty of relaxed improvisation and light-hearted banter — and is a must for any true Parker aficionado.