Biography
Dizzy Gillespie, born on October 21, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina, emerged as one of the most revolutionary figures in jazz music. Growing up in a small town, he was influenced by a variety of musical genres, particularly blues and big band jazz, which laid the foundation for his future works. He learned to play the trumpet while attending the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina and was known for his incredible embouchure and unique style, which would go on to define bebop and modern jazz. Gillespie's early career found him performing with local bands before making his way to the bustling jazz scene in New York City, where he honed his craft with influential orchestras like Cab Calloway and His Orchestra from 1939 to 1941, establishing himself as a prominent musician in the jazz community.
Roles
trumpet, eponymous, original, eponymous, original, eponymous, original, eponymous, original, trumpet, trumpet, eponymous, original, trumpet, eponymous, original, trumpet, eponymous, original, eponymous, original, eponymous, original, eponymous, original, trumpet, eponymous, original, eponymous, eponymous, original, trumpet, eponymous, original, trumpet, principal, trumpet, eponymous, original
Band History
Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie Sextet, Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie United Nation All Star Orchestra, Charlie Parker’s Ree Boppers, Dizzy Gillespie's Cool Jazz Stars, Boyd Raeburn & His Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie Quartet, Dizzy Gillespie and His All Stars, Dizzy Gillespie Jazzmen, Dizzy Gillespie-Phil Woods All Stars, The Trumpets of Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie and Harry Edison, Red Norvo All-Stars, Red Norvo & His Selected Sextet, Dizzy Gillespie’s All‐Star Quintet, The Giants of Jazz, Dizzy Gillespie – Stan Getz Sextet, Dizzy Gillespie’s Rebop Six, Dizzy Gillespie Jam, The Dizzy Gillespie 6
Signature Gear
Microphones: Shure SM58
Bandmates & Collaborators
John Coltrane, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Al Haig, Nelson Boyd, Charlie Parker Septet, Airto Moreira Group, John Coltrane Quintet