Jazz Legend Dizzy Gillespie's Life Up For Auction

Almost 1,000 items from the home of late jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie are going under the hammer. Possessions up for grabs include one of his signature bent trumpets, a Grammy Award, a piano, his record collection and handwritten sheet music. Gillespie, regarded as one of the best jazz trumpeters, died in 1993 aged 75. The items come from the house he shared in New Jersey with Lorraine, his wife of 53 years. Two of his other trumpets fetched $72,000 in February. Other items up for grabs on Wednesday include a range of drums, hats, photographs, letters and awards.

Gillespie was said to have taken up playing the bent trumpet after accidentally damaging one and discovering he liked the sound. He is credited with expanding the technical limits of the instrument and pushing back the boundaries of jazz. The sale will take place at Dawson and Nye auction house in Morris Plains, New Jersey.

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