Dizzy Gillespie Bio
Trumpeter and bandleader Dizzy Gillespie (Oct 21, 1917 - Jan 6, 1993), a true jazz giant, is known and respected as much for his personality and worldwide jazz promotion, as for his innovative contributions to modern jazz.
The youngest of nine children, John Birks Gillespie began playing trumpet at fourteen after briefly trying the trombone. He later received a music scholarship to Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina.
John's earliest professional jobs were with the Frankie Fairfax band. His outlandish antics prompted fellow band members to give him the nickname Dizzy. One of his earliest influences was trumpeter Roy Eldridge whose style he learned to imitate. (It's interesting that Gillespie's own style was so complex that his contemporaries found it easier to copy trumpeters like Miles Davis and Fats Navarro.) Ironically, Dizzy went on to replace Eldridge in Teddy Hill's band.¹
¹ Ace's Bio-Farm.
Dizzy Gillespie Quotes
“Men have died for this music. You can’t get more serious than that.” ~ Dizzy Gillespie
“They’re not particular about whether you’re playing a flatted fifth or a ruptured 129th as long as they can dance to it.” ~ Dizzy Gillespie
“It’s taken me all my life to learn what not to play.” ~ Dizzy Gillespie
"I don't care too much about music. What I like is sounds." ~ Dizzy Gillespie
"How do I know why Miles walks off the stage? Why don't you ask him? And besides, maybe we'd all like to be like Miles, and just haven't got the guts." ~ Dizzy Gillespie
