Avery Parrish, born James Avery Parrish on January 24, 1917, in Birmingham, Alabama, was an influential American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He is best remembered for his composition "After Hours," which became a jazz standard. Parrish began his musical journey in Birmingham, where he graduated from Parker High School and later attended Alabama State Teachers College. There, he joined the Bama State Collegians in 1934, which evolved into the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra.

Parrish's tenure with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra marked the height of his career, during which he recorded extensively and contributed significantly to the band's success. His 1940 recording of "After Hours" with the orchestra became a classic, and the piece has been covered by numerous artists over the years.

In 1941, Parrish left the Hawkins orchestra and moved to California, where he continued to work as a solo pianist. However, his career was tragically cut short in 1942 when he was involved in a bar fight that resulted in severe injuries and partial paralysis, rendering him unable to play professionally again.

Avery Parrish passed away under mysterious circumstances on December 10, 1959, in New York City. Despite his brief career, his contribution to jazz music, particularly through "After Hours," left a lasting impact. In recognition of his influence, Parrish was posthumously inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979.