1. April Josserand Mrs. Burns Honors English III – 8 th hour 4-7-11 Click images to go to different slides. Use home button in lower right hand corner to return to main page.

2. Dizzy Gillespie helped in the finding of the jazz style of Be-Bop music. He helped many other musicians to create it. Gillespie also helped infuse Afro-Cuban style music with the Be-Bop. He became known as “Dizzy” due to how he played his trumpet, the nickname just stuck. Also, Gillespie had a wild musical style. He could hit many high notes on the trumpet. He could get a crowd going with the cliff hangers he left during his music using phrasing, slurs, and long pauses. Although he helped with Be-Bop Gillespie played a lot of jazz music with a swing style. Click here to listen to Dizzy Gillespie! 

3. Dizzy Gillespie is widely known for his bent trumpet. It sits at a 45 degree angle, not the average trumpet. In the 1950’s Gillespie was at a performance when his trumpet was tripped over. The trumpet was on a stand causing the bell to bend. Furthermore Gillespie decided he liked the sound of the trumpet with a bent bell. He chose not to get it fixed or buy a new trumpet. Gillepsie liked the sound of the trumpet so much he had them built just like the original just for him. The trumpet is now in a museum.

4. At every performance Dizzy Gillespie had, gasps of surprise would probably echo throughout the audience from Gillespie’s cheeks. Without a true explanation of why Gillespie’s cheeks were so big, he was famous for them. Although it wasn’t the only thing used as a representation of Gillespie, they were a big part of his image. Along with Gillespie’s cheeks he was widely known for helping create Be- Bop style of music. His bent trumpet was also a good part of Gillespie’s image. When you hear Dizzy Gillespie, never fail to think of his puffed out cheeks.

5. Within Cheraw, South Carolina sits the statue of a jazz sensation. Dizzy Gillespie was born and raised in Cheraw. His father died while Gillespie was young, forcing him and his family to move away from economic circumstance. Gillespie still called Cheraw, South Carolina his home even when he wasn’t living there. Additionally, Gillespie learned to play and read music from his friend Norman Powe. Gillespie seemed to learn music by ear. He had a good sense of rhythms. Throughout time he helped in the creation of the style of music called “Bebop.” The statue is placed in his honor, along with the statue is a street named after him, and several other memories of Gillespie.

6. Was it the puffiness of the cheeks or the bent trumpet that caught everyone's eye. Dizzy Gillespie, world known trumpet player, died at age 75 in New Jersey. Gillespie had been suffering from cancer. Throughout Gillespie’s jazz years he helped compose the musical style of Be- Bop and then eventually added in Afro-Cuban music. Along with the bent trumpet and puffed out cheeks, Gillespie would add in facial expression to entertain a crowd while he performed. Although he didn’t read music the best, Gillespie sure could play. He gained musical talent simply by listening to someone he looked up to. Simply by practicing and gaining help, Gillespie soared to musical success. Click here to go to Article! ^

7. Crouch, Stanley. "Dizzy Gillespie." Jazz. Oxford University Press, n.d. Web. 6 Apr 2011.. Spruill, Sarah. "Dizzy Gillespie in Cheraw." Cheraw. True Blue Advertising & Kaleidascope, 2010. Web. 6 Apr 2011.. Watrous, Peter. "Arts: Dizzy Gillespie, Who Sounded Some of Modern Jazz's Earliest Notes, Dies at Age 75." New York Times. The New York Times Company, January 7, 1993. Web. 6 April 2011.. "Dizzy Gillespie." Google Images. Web. 7 Apr 2011.. "Dizzy Gillespie." The Dizzy Gillespie's AllStars. The Dizzy Gillespie AllStars, 2010. Web. 7 Apr 2011.. "Dizzy Gillespie's Trumpet." Google Images. Web. 7 Apr 2011.. "Dizzy Gillespie." Wikipedia. N.p., 13 March 2011. Web. 7 Apr 2011..