Biography
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator, and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but adding layers of harmonic and rhythmic complexity previously unheard in jazz. His combination of musicianship, showmanship, and wit made him a leading popularizer of early bebop styles. His beret and horn-rimmed spectacles, scat singing, bent horn, pouched cheeks, and light-hearted personality have made him an enduring icon.
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Awards & recognition
- New Jersey Hall of Fame · 2014
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award · 1989
- National Medal of Arts · 1989
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
- Kennedy Center Honors
Show all 8 awards →
- NEA Jazz Masters
- Paul Acket Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Filmography13 titles
The Hat
Good Evening Ev'rybody: In Celebration of Louis Armstrong
Jazz: The Only Way of Life
The Muppet Show
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
The Cosby Show
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
The Dick Cavett Show
Jivin' in Bebop
Great Performances