Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie met his would-be wife, Lorraine Willis, in August 1937 while he was working in Washington DC. At that time, she was a dancer in the Baltimore-Philadelphia-New York City circuit. Although Willis was initially indifferent, Dizzy won her over and the two got married on May 9, 1940. They remained together until his death.

He also had a daughter, Jeanie Bryson, born out of a liaison with songwriter Connie Bryson. She is also a celebrated singer, specializing in a combination of jazz, pop and Latin music.

Born a Christian, Dizzy Gillespie converted to the Bahá'í faith in 1968. Because of the universal nature of his faith, he saw himself as a global citizen and a musical messenger. He also took great interest in his African heritage.

Dizzy Gillespie was born as John Birks Gillespie on October 21, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina. His father, James Gillespie, a bricklayer by profession, was also a leader of the local band. His mother’s name was Lottie Gillespie. He was the youngest of his parents’ nine children.

As the son of a musician, John was exposed to different types of musical instruments from childhood. Also having extraordinary musical talent, he learned to play the piano from the age of four.

Unfortunately, his father died when he was only ten years old and thereafter, the family had to go through a lean period. In spite of that, his interest in music did not diminish. Contrarily, his talent earned him a place in the school band.

At twelve, he taught himself to play the trombone. But when in the same year, his neighbor lent him a trumpet he immediately fell in love with it. Soon he was teaching himself how to play the instrument.

However, he did not have any direction until one night he heard David Roy Eldridge play on the radio. He now took him up as his idol, dreaming of becoming a jazz player one day.

In 1935, seventeen-year-old John Birks Gillespie began his career with Frank Fairfax Orchestra. It was here that he earned his nickname ‘Dizzy’ for his unpredictable and yet funny behavior. During this period, not yet having a style of his own, he mostly cloned his hero David Roy Eldridge.

In 1937, he left Philadelphia for New York, where he first joined Edgar Hayes’ band. Soon, he made a name for himself in New York’s music circle, playing his trumpet with a radically fresh approach.

By then, David Roy Eldridge had left Teddy Hill’s band. They now hired Dizzy as their first trumpet, essentially as a replacement for Eldridge. It was with this band that he made his recording debut on their version of ‘King Porter Stomp.’

Also in 1937, he went with the band on a European tour, visiting England and France, with ‘The Cotton Club Show.’ On his return, he worked freelance for one year. During this period, he experimented with music, creating a style of his own.

Soon, his music attracted the attention of Mario Bauza, the Godfather of Afro-Cuban jazz, then a member of the Chick Webb's Orchestra. Later when in 1938 he joined Cab Calloway Orchestra, he convinced Calloway to hire Dizzy.

In 1940, Bauza left the Calloway band. Then one day in 1941, during the rehearsal, somebody threw a spitball at Calloway. He blamed Dizzy Gillespie for the prank, which was denied by the other man. The altercation led to a fist fight and ultimately they took out knives.

Before they could be separated, Calloway had minor cuts on his hands and buttocks. Although Dizzy tried to apologize a few days later, Calloway dismissed him from his job.

By then, Dizzy had already started writing big band music for musicians like Woody Herman and Jimmy Dorsey. He now started freelancing for many noted bands. Later from 1942, he started freelancing for Ella Fitzgerald's orchestra, composed mainly of members of the Chick Webb's band.

In 1943, Dizzy Gillespie moved to Earl Hines’ Grand Terrace Orchestra. He had, by that time, met Charlie Parker at Harlem and was immensely impressed by his music. On his recommendation, Parker was appointed for an eight month’s gig at Hine’s.

However, their collaboration actually started in 1944, when Billy Eckstine opened his own big band and both Dizzy and Parker went with him. It continued even after Dizzy left Eckstine in 1945 to form his own small combo.