SC-13-6 Dizzy Gillespie Birthplace A

Marker text: DIZZY GILLESPIE BIRTHPLACE

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was born in a house on this site on Oct. 21, 1917. His family lived here until they moved to Philadelphia in 1935. A founder of modern jazz, Gillespie was an innovative trumpeter and bandleader known for his bent horn, bulging cheeks, sense of humor, and showmanship. In the 1950s he became a good will ambassador for the U.S. State Dept., playing concerts around the world.
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Erected by the Pee Dee Committee, Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina, 2001