Dizzy Gillespie

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (October 21, 1917 - January 6, 1993) was born John Birks Gillespie in Cheraw, South Carolina. He was an African-American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer, and composer. Gillespie, with Charlie Parker, was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz. In addition to featuring in these epochal moments in jazz, he was instrumental in founding Afro-Cuban jazz.

Related Topics:
October 21 - 1917 - January 6 - 1993 - Cheraw, South Carolina - African-American - Jazz - Trumpeter - Bandleader - Singer - Composer - Charlie Parker - Bebop - Modern jazz - Afro-Cuban jazz

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John Birks Gillespie was the youngest of nine children, and he taught himself to play the trumpet at the age of 12. Despite the poverty he grew up in, he managed to win a scholarship to the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. However, he soon dropped out of school, and became desperate to work as a full-time musician. Despite finding work with Cab Calloway's group, Dizzy was soon being excoriated for his adventurous solos by his employer, who branded it "Chinese music." He was fired as a result of Calloway's dissatisfaction with Gillespie's modern, unorthodox approach.

Related Topics:
Laurinburg Institute - North Carolina - Cab Calloway

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Gillespie was a trumpet virtuoso and gifted improviser. In addition to his instrumental skills, Dizzy's beret and horn-rimmed specs, his scat singing, his bent horn and pouched cheeks, and his light-hearted personality endeared many to what was regarded as threatening and frightening music. In his playing, Gillespie built on the "saxophonic" style of Roy Eldridge, and the harmonic complexity of Charlie Parker and then went far beyond it. Unlike his great contemporary "Bird", Dizzy made a point of enthusiastically teaching future generations (such as Miles Davis at the time) the convolutions of bop. His memorable trademarks were distending his cheeks while playing (unlike most trumpet players who are trained to not do this - "Gillespie's pouch" is purportedly a term used by the medical community for cheek distention.), and a trumpet whose bell was bent at a 45 degree angle rather than a traditional straight trumpet. This was originally the result of accidental damage, but the constriction caused by the bending altered the tone of the instrument, and Gillespie liked the effect.

Related Topics:
Improviser - Beret - Scat singing - Roy Eldridge - Charlie Parker - Miles Davis

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In addition to his work with Parker, Gillespie led small combos and big bands and appeared frequently as a soloist with Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic. The legendary big band of Billy Eckstine gave his unusual harmonies a better setting. In the 40s, Gillespie led the movement called Afro-Cuban music, bringing Latin and African elements to greater prominence in jazz and even pop music, particularly salsa.

Related Topics:
Norman Granz's - Jazz at the Philharmonic - Big band - Billy Eckstine - 40s - Afro-Cuban music - Latin - Pop music - Salsa

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Gillespie wrote a number of jazz standards, among them "Manteca", "A Night in Tunisia", "Groovin' High", "Salt Peanuts" and "Con Alma", all of which are now jazz classics.

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Gillespie published his autobiography, To Be or not to Bop in 1979, ISBN 0306802368.

Related Topics:
Autobiography - 1979

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Dizzy Gillespie was one of the most famous adherents of the Bahá'í Faith to the point that he is often called the Bahá'í Jazz Ambassador. He is honored with weekly jazz sessions at the New York Bahá'í Center.

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He died of cancer in early 1993 and lies in the Flushing Cemetery in Queens, New York.

Related Topics:
1993 - Flushing Cemetery

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He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7057 Hollywood Boulevard.

Related Topics:
Hollywood Walk of Fame - Hollywood Boulevard

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