John Birk's Life and Accomplishments

1220 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Jazz history research paper

Dizzy Gillespie

John Birks, also known as “Dizzy Gillespie” was born October 21,1917. He grew up in Cheraw, South Carolina. Gillespie was the youngest of his nine siblings. Gillespie’s father was a bandleader as well as a bricklayer. His father died when he was only ten years of age. Several years after his father passed away Dizzy Gillespie became a self-taught trombone and trumpet player (“David”). His skills increased so much over time that he later learned how to play the cornet. Gillespie had a special talent for playing these instruments. He was enrolled into the Laurinburg Institute of North Carolina in 1932. The school told him that they wanted him to play for their band. During his time at the school, he practiced his instruments mostly by himself.

In 1935, Gillespie decided to shift his focus from school to family. He moved to Philadelphia with his family and joined a group whose leader was Frankie Fairfax. Charlie Shavers was also a part of the band. “Shavers knew many of the trumpet solos of Roy Eldridge, and Gillespie learned them by copying Shavers (he had previously known only a handful of phrases by Eldridge, the man who became his early role model). While he was in Fairfax's band, Gillespie's clownish behavior earned him the nickname he has carried ever since” (“Dizzy Gillespie”).

Jones 2

Eventually in 1937, Dizzy Gillespie decided to head out to New York to carry out his dream of becoming a famous jazz player. During his time at New York he talked with many different bands and earned a job with Teddy Hill’s band. Hill was very impressed with Gillespie’s unique playing style. The group went on a tour from Great Britain to France shortly after Gillespie had joined the band. After getting back from the tour G...

... middle of paper ...

...ians and was a pioneer. He was a hard worker and diligent musician. Although he struggled with alcohol, he didn’t let it overpower him. He was a champion. Dizzy Gillespie will be forever remembered not only by his talents as a musician but also by his perseverance during the struggles of his life.

Jones 6

Works Cited

David , Hemphill. American Popular Music: A Multicultural History. 1st edition. 2005. Print.

"Dizzy Gillespie ." John Birks (1917-1993) Trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. .

“Dizzy Gillespie is born.” 2014. The History Channel website. Mar 24 2014, 9:17 .

"Dizzy Gillespie – Jazz and Blues Masters ." american jazz musician . b 1917 . d 1993. .

Show More
Related

  • Benjamin Banneker's Life And Accomplishments

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The color of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellectual powers”. The words of wisdom from the intelligent Mathematician by the name of Benjamin Banneker. Benjamin Banneker was an African American almanac author and writer and farmer. He was born in Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland on November 9th, 1731. Benjamin was the first African-American to invent the first functioning clock. Benjamin was a self-educated black man who had known about math and astronomy which is a branch of science that deals with objects, space and the physical universe.

    Read More

  • Biography of Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington

    1250 Words  | 3 Pages

    " Ellington played his last three shows in 1973 before he passed away at the age of seventy-five, a month after his birthday on May 24, 1974 from lung cancer and pneumonia. In conclusion, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was of the most talented jazz composers and pianists of the 20th century and did amazing work and composed some of the most famous compositions of jazz. He has gave so many jazz composers motivation to do what they love and think outside the box, he was a genius. His compositions will live through the decades inspiring musicians and composers, his talent will live forever.

    Read More

  • Louis Armstrong Research Paper

    503 Words  | 2 Pages

    Developed in the early 1940's, Bop had established itself as vogue by 1945. It's main innovators were alto saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. In this stage in jazz, improvisation differed immensely. Bebop soloists engaged in harmonic improvisation, often avoiding the melody altogether after the first chorus. Usually under seven pieces, the soloist was free to explore improvised possibilities as long as they fit into the chord structure. Popular and influential jazz artists include: Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, & Cannonball Adderley. Armstrong is most known for his involvement in hot jazz as a trumpeter, but is especially renowned for his improvisation capabilities. Louis Armstrong, born August 4, 1901 right in the beginning stages of the jazz movement, was originally from New Orleans. Armstrong was a bandleader, soloist, comedian/actor, and vocalist. Another famous, Miles Davis, is what some consider to be the best trumpeter of the era. Davis was born on May 26, 1926 in Alton, Illinois. One unique thing about Davis was that he was taught to play without vibrato, which was incredibly contrary to the popular way of

    Read More

  • The Bebop and Cool Jazz Eras of the 40’s and 50’s

    1828 Words  | 4 Pages

    The popularity of jazz grew in the twenties, and its center changed from New Orleans to Chicago. From there it spread to Kansas City and New York. The end of WWI ushered in the Jazz Age in New York, and it came to be associated with the parties and wild behavior of the 1920’s (Verve). Music from this era is also sometimes called “The Chicago Style,” and includes artists such as Bix Beiderbecke on trumpet and Pee Wee Russel, Mezz Mezzrow, and Benny Goodman on clarinet.

    Read More

  • Jelly Roll Morton, a Brief Biography

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    The music of jazz became an important aspect of American culture in the early 20th century. The crisp syncopation of ragtime and the smooth tunes of the blues seeped into American mainstream music through dance halls and saloons and later through ballrooms. Instruments like the piano, trumpet, trombone and clarinet became important and symbolized the “swing-feel” of jazz because of their capability to syncopate and improvise precisely. With the help of the booming recording industry, musical geniuses were discovered and their talent and contributions to the emergence of jazz spread throughout the entire country. Such musicians include composer, arranger and pianist Jelly Roll Morton who heavily influenced the development of early jazz by his unique piano style, his “invention” of musical notation for jazz, and his compositions that have become the core in the jazz repertory. Because the style was new and different and so successful in drawing in large audiences, musicians around the world tried to mimic it. Furthermore, Morton’s masterpieces were the first to show notation for complicated jazz music and thus, formed the basis for standard notation in jazz compositions today.

    Read More

  • Wayne Shorter Research Paper

    359 Words  | 1 Pages

    Wayne Shorter was born on August 25th, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey. His musical introduction came through the clarinet at the age of 16. Shorter attended Arts High School and later graduated from New York University with a major in music education in 1956. It was while in New York that Shorter started to play the saxophone and gained exposure to some of Jazz’s most influential artists. After a two year interruption in the military, Shorter kickstarted his professional career in 1958 with a band led by pianist Horace Silver. The band showcased Shorter’s talents and led to his invitation to join the Maynard Ferguson band and later Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. After 4 years with Blakey, the Vee-Jay label endorsed Shorter as one of their lead artists and he released his first three solo albums (Second Genesis, Blues A La Carte, and Wayning Moments). In the 1960s, he continued to win attention from audiences and recorded another 9 albums with Blue Notes label (check album information links). In 1964, Miles Davis invited Wayne to play with his quintet composed of Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. The band was successful in shaping the direction of jazz music during a difficult social time. In 1970, Shorter started his own band, the Weather Report with Joe Zawinul and Miroslav Vitous. This band helped innovate jazz by integrating a rock, classical and jazz forms into a hybrid that would later be called fusion. During the Weather Report years, Shorter won the first of three career grammies. Shorter’s influence has continued through the present day. Last year, at the age of 69, he toured the Wayne Shorter Quartet and showcased his first acoustic album, Footprints Live.

    Read More

  • Impact of Music of the Harlem Renaissance Upon the Artists of Today

    1614 Words  | 4 Pages

    All types of music require musicians. In the H.R (Harlem Renaissance), there were many who contributed to this new style of music known as jazz. These musicians all have their own style and form. Each of these styles has in some way influenced the evolution of jazz. Louis “Sachmo” Armstrong is recognized as the most famous trumpet player of this time. His “hot bop” style was heard in places like the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theatre. Everyone from all over the country would come to see him. Armstrong recorded such works as I’m in the Mood for Love, and You Rascal you (http://library.thinkquest.org/26656/english/music.html). Another famous person during this era was Coleman Hawkins, a saxophone player. Hawkins is recognized as the first great saxophonists of Jazz. His most famous work was a piece named Body and Soul (http://library.thinkquest.org…). Hawkins has also recorded with artists such as Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington. Other people such as Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, and “Dizzie” Gillespie have also made many contributions to the development of Jazz.

    Read More

  • Biography on John Coltrane

    608 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Coltrane was a jazz saxophonist from 1955 to 1967. He was born in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 23, 1926. A few years later he moved to Highpoint, North Carolina.(D) As a child he was surrounded by a musical family. When he turned thirteen he started to play the alto saxophone. 1939 was a life changing year for Coltrane because his father, uncle, and grandparents died.(C) In the middle of that same year he graduated from grammar school.(D) Sadly when his family started to split and go to different states Coltrane moved to Philadelphia in 1943.(C)

    Read More

  • Impact Of Benny Goodman And The Swing Era

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the mid 1930s, Benny Goodman sparked the beginning of the Swing Era of jazz music shortly after leading his first band, which was monumental to the development of jazz. This marked a transition from the early Jazz Age, which resulted from combining aspects of ragtime and blues music over the previous two decades. Through Goodman’s live performances at various gigs and NBC’s radio show Let’s Dance, he gained increased recognition as a jazz performer and band leader. Following his pivotal Palomar Ballroom gig in Los Angeles, Goodman’s music inspired teenagers to create dances to accompany his new jazz style. As a result, his music grew to gain national acclaim and popularity among many different types of people. Goodman greatly influenced

    Read More

  • Benny Goodman's Jazz, And The Swing Era

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    At one point during the fighting there were 39 band leaders in the army. Glen Miller, whose infectious hits like “In the Mood” epitomized the war years, disbanded his own hugely successful [jazz] orchestra, enlisted, and formed an all-star air force unit that some believe was the best band he ever had – and died in 1944 when his airplane disappeared over the English channel.” With the capitol of many bandleaders declining It became inevitable that in order to progress, the jazz ensemble would have to become smaller. Musicians that were not enlisted, but out of work, began to meet up at local clubs and perform, and were often unpaid, but happy to at least be able to play with other musicians. By this time a major change in jazz was afoot, and a young trumpet player named Dizzy Gillespie formed his own small prototype group at the Onyx Club in New York.

    Read More

  • Lewis Armstrong's Influence On Jazz Music

    1499 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the mention jazz music, that people will first think of is likely to be a great figure with a clown image, nicknamed Uncle Satchmo. The man was Lewis Armstrong. He is a husky singer, often with a trumpet in his hand. He played dramatic works of simple structure in Orleans jazz style and with the accompaniment of Dick jazz music. Each of the books on jazz music will mention his name. Lewis Armstrong was to jazz music what Bach is to classical music, Presley is to rock music (Berrett 230). This essay will have an introduction of the king of jazz music—— Lewis Armstrong and his great influence on jazz history.

    Read More

  • Stan Kenton

    2568 Words  | 6 Pages

    Kenton was born in Wichita, Kansas on December 11, 1911, although he spent most of his youth in the Los Angeles area. He began studying piano and composition early with his mother and eventually with bandleader and pianist Earl "Fatha" Hines. Kenton was influenced by many different kinds of music other than jazz, including twentieth century composers Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, and Bela Bartok. Once he was a little older, Kenton began playing around in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, and formed his first band in 1941, beginning his career as a bandleader. Kenton's music is best organized into the different "eras" of the Kenton bands: Artistry in Rhythm (mid-1940s), Progressive Jazz (mid- to late 1940s), Innovations in Modern Music (early 1950s), New Concepts in Artistry in Rhythm (Contemporary Jazz) (early to mid-1950s), Orchestra in Residence (late 1950s), New Era in Modern Music (Mellophoniums) (early 1960s), Neophonic (mid-1960s), and Fusion (early 1970s). Each era had different elements which made it unique while still maintaining the inimitable Kenton sound. Kenton a...

    Read More

  • Duke Ellington

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edward Kennedy Ellington, American jazz composer, orchestrator, bandleader, and pianist, is considered to be the greatest composer in the history of jazz music and one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. He composed over 2000 works and performed numerous concerts during his musical career. A compilation of some of his most popular music is collected on a CD called "The Popular Duke Ellington." Ellington personally created most of the music played by his orchestra. He often wrote pieces for specific players with distinctive musical styles in his band, such as "Concerto for Cootie" (1940) for fellow musician and trumpeter, Cootie Williams. With the help of American trumpeter James "Bubber" Miley, Ellington often incorporated in his music the jungle effect.

    Read More

  • Sonny's Blues

    1744 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jazz music prospered in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Jazz was created by African Americans to represent pain and suffering and also represented the adversity that racial tension brought. (Scholastic) African American performers like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie “Bird” Parker came to be recognized for their ability to overcome “race relati...

    Read More

  • Dizzy Gillespie Thesis

    1478 Words  | 3 Pages

    be said of Dizzy. In the brilliance that was Dizzy Gillespie he fashioned great and

    Read More

More about John Birk's Life and Accomplishments

Open Document