Dizzy gillespie bio for kids

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an Americanjazztrumpeter, bandleader, singer and composer.

Early life

Gillespie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina, the youngest of nine children of James and Lottie Gillespie.

James was a local bandleader, so instruments were made available to the children. Gillespie's father died when he was only ten years old.

Gillespie taught himself how to play the trombone as well as the trumpet by the age of twelve.

He received a music scholarship to the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina which he attended for two years before accompanying his family when they moved to Philadelphia.

Career

Gillespie's first professional job was with the Frank Fairfax Orchestra in 1935.

After that, he joined the orchestras of Edgar Hayes and Teddy Hill, essentially replacing Roy Eldridge as first trumpet in 1937.

In 1939, Gillespie joined Cab Calloway's orchestra, with which he recorded one of his