Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie was born John Birks Gillespie on October 21, 1917 in Cheraw, South Carolina. He started playing the piano at the age of four and by the age of twelve he had taught himself to play the trombone and trumpet.

Dizzy's first professional job was with the Frank Fairfax Orchestra in 1935, after which he joined the bands of Edgar Hayes and , in 1937, the Teddy Hill Orchestra. He made his first recording with the Teddy Hill Band. In 1939, Dizzy joined the Cab Calloway  Orchestra and stayed with them till 1941.

In 1943 Gillespie joined the Earl Hines Band after which he was with the famous Billy Eckstine Big Band. He left Eckstine because he wanted to play with a small combo and lead a big band himself. In 1956 he organized a band to go on a State Department tour of the Middle East. This was very well received and earned him the nickname "The Ambassador of Jazz."

In 1960, Dizzy was inducted into the Down Beat magazine's Jazz Hall of Fame. In the 1980's he led the United Nations Orchestra and in 1989 was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dizzy Gillespie died of pancreatic cancer on January 6, 1993, at the age of 75, in Englewood, New Jersey.

Earlier this evening I listened to Dizzy Gillespie "At Newport." This was recorded on July 6, 1957 and is on the Verve label. The band includes Dizzy, Lee Morgan, Ermet Perry, Carl Warwick, and Talib Dawud on trumpets; Al Grey, Melba Liston, and Chuck Connors, on trombones; Benny Golson and Billy Mitchell on tenor sax; Ernie Henry and Jimmy Powell on alto sax; Pee Wee Moore on baritone sax; Wynton Kelly and guest Mary Lou Williams on piano; Paul West on bass; and Charlie Persip on drums.

Scott Yanow of AllMusic Guide has rated this album 5 stars and writes "This brillant CD captures one of the high points of Dizzy Gillespie's remarkable career and is highly recommended."

Here is a video of Dizzy playing "Salt Peanuts."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TvIXzeDLpMw