I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the history of our music. It's time for that, because whites have been doing it all the time. It's time for us to do it ourselves and tell it like it is.

He is honored with weekly jazz sessions at the New York Bahá'í Center in the memorial auditorium. Gillespie favored mouthpieces made by Al Cass.

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (pron. In the 1940s Gillespie together with Charlie Parker became a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz.