Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993) was an American trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, one of the most influential figures in bebop and modern jazz. Along with Charlie Parker, he was one of the pioneers of bebop, a style of jazz that broke with the structures of swing and promoted greater harmonic and rhythmic complexity.

Gillespie was known as much for his virtuosity on the trumpet as for his energy on stage, his distinctive bowed trumpet playing style, and his influence in expanding the jazz idiom. Among his best-known compositions are A Night in Tunisia and Salt Peanuts.

In addition to his solo work, he founded and led several major bands, and was an ambassador for jazz worldwide, bringing the genre to new audiences. His legacy lives on as one of jazz's most innovative and charismatic musicians.