Getty Images
Today would have been the band leader's 93rd birthday, and even companies like Google are celebrating his massive influence by generating a mosaic of Gillespie on their homepage.
Dizzy Gillespie, who passed away on Jan. 6, 1993 at the age of 75, began playing piano when he was only 4-years-old. By the age of 12, he had already taught himself how to play the trumpet and trombone and had aspirations of becoming a famous jazz musician.
Throughout the 1940's and 1950's, Gillespie became a prominent jazz composer and performer and became known for a sound that diverged from the norm at that time. Gillespie's influence continues today, especially with songs such as 'A Night in Tunisia,' which is noted for having a non-walking bass line and has gone down in history as a jazz staple.
His trumpet is just as famous as Gillespie himself, which is bent upward at a 45 degree angle. The trumpet produced a more constricted sound and is now housed in the Smithsonian Museum. With a career that spanned for more than half a century, there is no doubt that Gillespie will always be recognized as an American icon.
Watch Dizzy Gillespie and his band perform 'A Night in Tunisia.'
Kellie Pickler Named 'Dancing With the Stars' Champion
J. Cole Performs 'Born Sinner' on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,' Reveals Competitive Spirit Against Kanye West
Beyonce Releases New Anthem, 'Grown Woman'
Blake Shelton Joins NBC in Organizing Oklahoma Tornado Benefit Concert
Kellie Pickler Gets Puppy Surprise After Moving 'Dancing With the Stars' Performance
Charlie Sheen Gets Back To His Roots
Toby Keith Returns to Help Family, Friends in Moore, Oklahoma
WHOOPS! Obama Makes Big Gaffe
Black Hippy Release 'U.O.E.N.O.' Remix
Jury Foreman: '18 Days Of Testimony Hurt' Jodi Arias
Mariah Carey's Dress Busts Open During 'GMA' Performance
Mariah Carey Curses And Busts Out Of Dress On Live TV
Toby Keith Says His Hometown of Moore, Oklahoma 'Will Perservere' After Deadly Tornado
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Miranda Lambert's MuttNation Foundation to Aid Moore, Oklahoma Animal Rescue Efforts
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
Best Friends Reportedly Die Holding Each Other In Tornado
Candid Portraits Of Strippers After Hours
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Rapper Accused Of Faking His Own Death To Escape Payments
AMAZING PHOTO: UFO Spotted Over San Diego
Bridge Collapses In Washington State
LISTEN: Terror Inside Elementary School As Tornado Hits
Danny Tanner Is Fighting With Topanga
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
WATCH: Police Force Shows Up To Support 5-Year-Old Who Lost Her Dad
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
Luke Wilson Caught Staring At Fan's Chest
REVEALED: Disturbing Trend In Human Intelligence
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
LOOK: Bank Vault Saves 22 Lives During Tornado
2 Comments