Dizzy Gillespie remembered, by both critics and fans alike, as one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time". The youngest of nine children of James and Lottie Gillespie, Dizzy Gillespie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. His father was a local bandleader, so instruments were made available to the children. Gillespie started to play the piano at the age of four. Gillespie's father died when he was only ten years old. He taught himself how to play the trombone as well as the trumpet by the age of twelve. From the night he heard his idol, Roy Eldridge, on the radio,
Dizzy Gillespie suspecting that he would not play again. Each musician gave tribute to their friend, this great soul and innovator in the world of jazz." A longtime resident of Englewood, New Jersey he died of pancreatic cancer on January 6, 1993 at the age of 75 and was buried in Flushing Cemetery, Queens, New York City. Mike Longo delivered a eulogy at his funeral. He starred in a film called "The Winter in Lisbon" that was released in 2004. Gillespie has been described as the "sound of surprise". "The Rough Guide to Jazz" describes his musical style: In Gillespie's obituary, Peter