S*0265 Concurrent Resolution, By T.W. Mitchell, Bryan, Cork, Courson, Courtney, 
Drummond, Elliott, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, Hayes, Holland, Jackson, Land, 
Lander, Leatherman, Leventis, A.S. Macaulay, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, 
McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Rankin, Reese, 
L.E. Richter, M.T. Rose, Russell, Ryberg, Saleeby, Setzler, Short, G. Smith, 
J.V. Smith, H.S. Stilwell, Thomas, Waldrep, Washington, M.B. Williams and 
Wilson
 A Concurrent Resolution to express the heartfelt sympathy to the family of
 John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie of Cheraw in Chesterfield County on the death of
 this great jazz musician.

   01/26/93  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-14
   01/27/93  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence HJ-3

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF JOHN BIRKS "DIZZY" GILLESPIE OF CHERAW IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ON THE DEATH OF THIS GREAT JAZZ MUSICIAN.

Whereas, John Birks Gillespie was born on October 21, 1917, in Cheraw, South Carolina, the youngest of nine children; and

Whereas, he inherited his father's love of music and began playing musical instruments at an early age; and

Whereas, he formed his own band at age ten and in 1932 won a scholarship to the Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina; and

Whereas, when the young trumpet player joined the Cab Calloway Orchestra in 1939 he had already received the nickname of "Dizzy"; and

Whereas, with other musicians such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie pushed outward from the big band style creating a fiery, hard-charging style of music called bebop, giving African-American music a Latin beat; and

Whereas, Gillespie wrote or co-wrote many songs that became jazz standards; and

Whereas, his trademarks were a trumpet with its bell bent heavenward and his puffed up cheeks that made him stand out, and he was also a bit of a joker; and

Whereas, in March, 1976, he played a concert for the General Assembly; and

Whereas, Mr. Gillespie received an honorary degree, "Doctor of Humane Letters", from the University of South Carolina on May 17, 1980; and

Whereas, in 1985, he was named to the South Carolina Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, in 1990, he was an honoree of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina has lost one of its great native sons upon the death of this trumpeter, composer, and creator of bebop. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members express their heartfelt sympathy to the family of John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie of Cheraw on the death of this great jazz musician.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to his widow, Mrs. Lorraine Willis Gillespie.