Charlie Parker, also known as bird, is a legendary jazz musician who has influenced many of today's genres and helped develop the genre bebop. Bebop is a subgenre of jazz that is recognized as being difficult to dance to, but Bird said he didn't care if people danced to his music, because he was an artist. This episode of the PBS Digital Studios series, Sound Field, explores the origins of Bird’s legendary influence.

LA Buckner interviews jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson and sound archive director Chuck Haddix. LA spotlights the innovative style of Kansas City's own Charlie Parker and tracks down his influence on bebop, jazz and the rest of the musical world.