Dizzy Gillespie was the man who first made Bebop a vogue. Born in Cheraw, South Carolina, in 1917, he began studying the trombone when he was fourteen, and trumpet a year later.

For a number of years he was a free-lance trumpet player with various jazz outfits until 1939 when he joined Cab Calloway orchestra and became one its shining lights.

With the Earl Hines band, which he joined in 1943, he began developing some of those musical characteristics that were soon to identify Bebop.

Gillespie's devotees affected his eccentric dress - beret, heavy spectacals, beard.

Dizzy formed a new jazz group that was heard at theThree Deuces on 52nd St. Some of Dizzy's disciples and colleagues who preached his gospel of Bebop were, Thelonious Monk, Earl "Bud" Powell, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.

Cheraw has dedicated several streets to Dizzy's legacy.

Thanks to Southern music site for the Dizzy bio.