The painter Henryk F. Twardzik was born in Krakow, Poland and immigrated with his family to Boston at the age of four.

He studied art at the Albright Gallery of Art in Buffalo and at the New England school of Design.

As a painter he exhibited in galleries in Newburyport, Boston, Rockport and New York.

He made his living primarily designing stained glass windows for the C.G. Connick Company of Boston, a trade he learned at the School of Arts and Crafts in Boston.

Together with his wife Claire they operated Harbor Kennels for many years raising prize winning German Shepherds.

___________________________________________

Their only child Richard Henryk Twardzik was born in Boston in 1931.

He trained in classical piano as a child making his professional debut at the age of fourteen.

He was taught by Margaret Chaloff, the mother of baritone saxophone player Serge Chaloff.

Twardzik recorded with Serge Chaloff and with Charlie Mariano.

He worked with Charlie Parker on several occasions toward the end of Parker's life.

Twardzik also played professionally with Chet Baker and Lionel Hampton.

He recorded with Baker and Chaloff in 1954 and 1955. Sadly, in his teen years Twardzik became addicted to heroin,

he died of an overdose in Paris while on a European tour with Chet Baker.