Charlie Parker before he was famous

He washed dishes for $9 a week in New York.

The nobody years

1920s Mother works night shifts
Charlie Parker is born in Kansas City, Kansas, and grows up across the state line in Kansas City, Missouri. His mother works night shifts at a Western Union office, so the house goes quiet after dark while the city outside does not.
Was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where his mother worked night shifts at a Western Union office. Source
1930 Depression splits the family
The Great Depression pulls the family apart, and his parents separate. He stays with his mother, who now cleans for a living, and with an older half-brother in the same house.
His parents separated during the Great Depression; he lived with his mother, who worked as a cleaner, and an older half-brother. Source
1934 New alto saxophone, age 11
At eleven, he picks up the saxophone. When he joins the high school band, his mother buys him a new alto saxophone of his own.
Began playing saxophone at eleven and received a new alto saxophone from his mother on joining his high school band. Source
December 1935 Quits school, joins union
In December he withdraws from high school to give everything to music. He signs on with the local musicians' union, making it official: this is the job now.
Withdrew from high school in December to commit to music full-time and joined the local musicians' union. Source
Early 1936 Cymbal thrown at jam session
He sits in at a jam session with the Count Basie Orchestra and loses track of the chord changes. Drummer Jo Jones throws a cymbal at his feet to get him off the stand.
At a jam session with the Count Basie Orchestra, lost track of the chord changes and drummer Jo Jones threw a cymbal at his feet to force him off the stand. Source
Late 1936 Car accident, morphine prescribed
A car accident breaks three of his ribs and fractures his spine. A doctor prescribes morphine for the pain, and that prescription is the beginning of his opiate addiction.
Broke three ribs and fractured his spine in a car accident, and a doctor prescribed him morphine for the pain - the start of his opiate addiction. Source
1939 Dishwasher, nine dollars weekly
In New York, he takes a part-time job washing dishes at Jimmie's Chicken Shack for nine dollars a week. Out front, pianist Art Tatum is playing, and Charlie is back in the kitchen with his hands in the sink.
After moving to New York, worked part-time as a dishwasher at Jimmie's Chicken Shack for nine dollars a week, where pianist Art Tatum performed. Source