Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:265 Primary Sponsor:Mitchell Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Gillespie, John Birks "Dizzy" Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19930128 Computer Document Number:DKA/4174AL.93 Introduced Date:19930126 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:19930128 Last History Type:Received from House Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Mitchell Bryan Cork Courson Courtney Drummond Elliott Ford Giese Glover Gregory Hayes Holland Jackson Land Lander Leatherman Leventis Macaulay Martin Matthews McConnell McGill Mescher Moore O'Dell Passailaigue Patterson Peeler Rankin Reese Richter Rose Russell Ryberg Saleeby Setzler Short Greg Smith J. Verne Smith Stilwell Thomas Waldrep Washington Williams Wilson Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved
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265 Senate 19930128 Received from House
265 House 19930127 Introduced, adopted, returned
with concurrence
265 Senate 19930126 Introduced, adopted, sent to
House
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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.