Celebrity Graveland

October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993

There were trumpet players in jazz before Dizzy Gillespie. And there were trumpet players after Dizzy Gillespie. But, before or since, there was never another trumpet player LIKE Dizzy Gillespie.

John Birks Gillespie grew up in South Carolina with a bandleader father and regular access to musical instruments. John taught himself how to play trombone, piano and – of course – the trumpet. When his family relocated to Philadelphia, Gillespie began to find work in professional bands. When he was 22, he joined Cab Calloway‘s band, where he spent two years flourishing and perfecting his unique soloing style before ultimately stabbing Calloway in the leg. Seriously.

August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971

An argument can be made – and made well – that Louis Armstrong is the single most important figure in American music. While the likes of Elvis, MJ and Aretha “merely” excelled at their respective genres, Armstrong introduced his to the world. Of course, no one person can be credited with creating jazz, but the uniquely American music genre  can certainly trace its roots to New Orleans…and Louis Armstrong was right there at the start.

Born and raised in poverty in the Big Easy, Armstrong’s early life was peppered with struggle. He was arrested at the age of 11 and sent to live in a reform school for black boys. While at the desolate school, Armstrong joined the band and learned to play the cornet.

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