#charlie gillespie story

[joenateuser]

Charlie Gillespie | via instagram stories

[princessnamora]

How Marilyn Monroe changed Ella Fitzgerald’s life

If asked “Who played an important role in the musical career of Ella Fitzgerald?” you might respond with names like Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong, Norman Granz, and Dizzy Gillespie.

The name Marilyn Monroe (who passed away 50 years ago this August), however, might not come to mind.

While touring in the ’50s under the management of Norman Granz, Ella, like many African-American musicians at the time, faced significant adversity because of her race, especially in the Jim Crow states. Granz was a huge proponent of civil rights, and insisted that all of his musicians be treated equally at hotels and venues, regardless of race.

Despite his efforts, there were many roadblocks and hurdles put in to place, especially for some of the more popular African-American artists. Here is one story of Ella’s struggles (as written in chicagojazz.com):

Once, while in Dallas touring for the Philharmonic, a police squad irritated by Norman’s principles barged backstage to hassle the performers. They came into Ella’s dressing room, where band members Dizzy Gillespie and Illinois Jacquet were shooting dice, and arrested everyone. “They took us down,” Ella later recalled, “and then when we got there, they had the nerve to ask for an autograph.”

Across the country, black musicians, regardless of popularity, were often limited to small nightclubs, having to enter through the back of the house. Similar treatment was common at restaurants and hotels.

Enter Marilyn Monroe

During the ’50s, one of the most popular venues was Mocambo in Hollywood. Frank Sinatra made his Los Angeles debut at Mocambo in 1943, and it was frequented by the likes of Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Lana Turner.

Ella Fitzgerald was not allowed to play at Mocambo because of her race. Then, one of Ella’s biggest fans made a telephone call that quite possibly changed the path of her career for good. Here, Ella tells the story of how Marilyn Monroe changed her life:

“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt … she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him – and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status – that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.”

Learning from Ella

Ella had an influence on Marilyn as well. Monroe’s singing had a tendency to be overshadowed by dress-lifting gusts of wind and the flirtatious “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” not to mentions her movies and marriage to Joe DiMaggio. But years prior to the Mocambo phone call, Monroe was studying the recordings of Ella.

In fact, it was rumored that a vocal coach of Monroe instructed her to purchase Fitzgerald’s recordings of Gershwin music, and listen to it 100 times in a row.

Continued study of Ella actually turned Marilyn into a relatively solid singer for about a decade, but again became overlooked as her famous birthday tribute song to JFK in 1962 ends up being the vocal performance that is widely remembered.

Source: How Marilyn Monroe changed Ella Fitzgerald’s life – Groove Notes by KNKX

@hotvintagepoll

[dreamings-free]

Hi! Do you know for how many years Louis’ current team has been with him? At least the main ones like his band, grooming, Helen, management? I was scrolling down on Louis’ insta and saw Helen’s comment back in 2017 and was like 🤔

hi anon 😊

this has been in my inbox for a while since it a big q and I've been on holiday on and off.. but here is a good bit of background info for you :

Helen Seamons has indeed worked with Louis since 2017. afaik she first styled Louis for the Observer Mag article shoot on 2/5/17. later that month Louis was styled by both Helen and Krystle for the Back To You music video and they have both been part of his team ever since. Helen has also had a few styling assistants working with her for Louis over the years, like Bemi Shaw (TXF 2018), Peter Bevan (since 2021) and Roz Donoghue (since 2022 I think?)

as for management, we first heard about Louis signing with Three Six Zero and Mark Gillespie for management in July 2018, around the time Louis started filming TXF, but it had probably happened a while before that (at least I believe that Mark - and Matt Vines too - had a hand in the way TXF was used as a reintroduction of Louis to both fans and the general public, and that deal had to have been made earlier that year). at some point however Louis seems to have switched from Gillespie and Three Six Zero to be managened by Matt Vines at Seven 7 Managent (or at least co-managed, because Vines has ties to Gillespie and Three Six Zero; he was VP of Artist Management at Three Six Zero’s UK branch before starting his own management co. Seven 7 in 2016) - who he’s still with today.

the band is a looong story.. as you may know Louis first put a band together back in 2017 for Miss You promo and a few performances like Royal Variety. Zak Craner was part of that band and is the only one still in Louis' touring band now. (tho Rich Zbaraski who was also in the 2017 band replaced Matt on bass for a few gig in 2022). sometime after Louis' time on TXF, probably in early 2019, a new band was formed. we don't have all the details but I believe Matt Vines brought in Steve Durham (who it seems he knew already) and had him put a band together (Matt Dinnadge talks about this in the video interview he did during the pandemic). the initail lineup, which we saw briefly for Two Of Us promo, consisted of Steve Durham (musical director, drums), Zak Craner (keys), Michael Blackwell (guitar) and Charlie Fowler (bass). later that year when Louis came back for the release of Kill My Mind the music video featured the same band except Matt Dinnadge had replaced Fowler on bass. Matt’s first live gig with Louis was Coca Cola Music Festival in Madrid. Isaac Anderson (rhythm guitar) was added to the band later in 2019 - his very first live show with Louis was the Telehit performance in Mexico City ! and those five have made up the band ever since ☺️

hope that’s the info you were looking for!

if you're on desktop you can try these links for various tags in chronological order:

lt management | three six zero | seven 7 | louis’ band

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Sam Roland Heughan, born 30th April 1980 in Balmaclellan, Dumfries and Galloway.

Sam got his name from the Lord of the Rings character Samwise Gamgee. his parents were big fans of the Tolkien books. He attended Kells Primary School in New Galloway before the family moved to Edinburgh when he was 12, he went to James Gillespie’s on the edge of the meadows before finishing his school education at the prestigious Rudolph Steiner School.

After leaving School at 18 Sam worked and travelled before returning to Scotland and enrolling in the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 2003.

Sam built a solid career in theatre in both Scotland and England starring in productions of Plague Over England, Macbeth, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Amphibians, and King John. He has also been featured in notable indie films, Emulsion, and Heart Of Lightness but of course it is one particular role that has catapulted him into worldwide stardom, that of Jamie Fraser in Outlander.

For those who don’t know Outlander it follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who finds herself hurled back in time to the 1740’s in and around the time when The Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie made the final ill fated attempt to put the Stuarts back on the throne. Sam plays Claire’s “love interest” she is forced to marry. Further series are set in the US in the 1770’s, their remains a strong Scottish presence in the cast, and the show is filmed in studios in Cumbernauld. Sam has won a number of awards for the series.

In the movie To Olivia he played Hollywood star Paul Newman and in the adaptation of the Andy McNab book, SAS: Red Notice, he played SAS soldier Tom Buckingham. Oor birthdat boy also teamed up with fellow Outlander star Graham McTavish Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham. The series follows the pair as they explore their homeland delving into the culture and history of Scotland, in a light-hearted way. The second series of the show aired last year, the reviews were mainly positive. The duo are already looking at a third journey, this time to North America but that will likely involve indulging Heughan's thrill-seeking side - much to his friend's dismay

Sam also appeared in the psychological series The Couple Next Door last year, I am yet to catch this, it has average reviews on IMDB of 5.6 out of ten. Born to be Great the story of Alexander The Great's early life has been completed but is yet to recieve a release date.

According to reports Sam celebrated his birthday in Edinburgh at the weekend while also running his My Peak Challenge which included workouts, outdoor activities and a gala night with dinner and dancing. He posted on Instagram describing the event as a 'unique blend of wellness, camaraderie, celebration and more'. The peakers, as they are known has raised millions for charities including Marie Curie.

[enchantedrose]

Charlie Gillespie ~ Sex Tape

warning: sexual content. if you’re not comfortable with that, please don’t read. also, this man is so fine toooooo.

————————————————————————

Y/n: “I’ll see you later!” I yell to my best friend Sarah as she drops me back off at my house from work. As i get to my front door, i unlock it and open the door, shutting it behind me. Charlie already told me it was gonna be a late night so i already know he’s not home right now. I go upstairs to our bedroom and change clothes into a pair of shorts and one of Charlie’s shirts before sitting on our bed and getting my phone out. Conveniently enough, as I get it out, my phone rings and i see that Charlie is calling me. I smile before answering the call. “Hey Char.”

Charlie: “Hey baby.” He says on the other end.

Y/n: “What’s up?”

Charlie: “Nothing. I just wanted to hear your voice for a few minutes.” He says making me smile again.

Y/n: “Are you coming home?”

Charlie: “No.” He says before sighing a little. “I’m on a small break right now. I have one more small thing to do after and then I’ll be on my way home. Are you home yet?”

Y/n: “Yeah. I just got home a few minutes ago. Do i need to make you any dinner?”

Charlie: “No. Don’t worry about it love. They have food for us over here. Feel free to make yourself something if you’d like though.” It’s then silence for a few moments before he speaks again. “I love you.”

Y/n: “I love you too baby.”

Charlie: “I gotta go love. I’ll see you later.”

Y/n: “Yeah. Bye Char.”

Charlie: “Bye baby.” He says before we end the call and i look at my lock screen. The one of the both of us. I smile to myself again before opening my phone and laying down a little. I start scrolling on Instagram and checking stories for a few minutes as I see that Owen posted one. I open his story and see Charlie playing around a few hours ago. I smile again watching Charlie being weird and laughing before going back to checking my insta notifications. When i finish checking those, i go to TikTok and watch some of those. I was scrolling for a few minutes when I found a hot edit of Charlie. As i watch it, i can feel myself getting wet. Without realizing, my hand goes down to my cunt and i start rubbing myself slowly. After a few minutes, i set my phone down next to me and continue rubbing myself over my shorts as i moan out thinking of Charlie. “What are you doing?” I hear a voice ask with a small chuckle. I pop open my eyes and see Charlie leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed watching me.

Y/n: “Charlie…” i say moving my hand away quickly.

Charlie: “Ah.” He says stopping me. “Hand back. Now.” He says walking over to me slowly. I then hesitantly put my hand back on my clit as Charlie stands next to me.

Y/n: “I d-didn’t know you were home…” i say as my heartbeat speeds up a little.

Charlie: “Clearly.” He says chuckling a little. I rub myself a little over my shorts again as i moan out again. I barely see Charlie slightly lean against the wall as he watches me.

Y/n: “C-Char…”

Charlie: “Stop love.” He says making me stop my movements whining a little. “Don’t worry love. You’ll get to. I just want to make you do it myself.” He says coming close to me and kissing me, one of his hands on the back of my neck. We make out for a few minutes before he pulls apart and looks at me. “I have an idea.” He says before pecking my lips again and walking over to our dresser at the foot of the bed. I see him take his phone out and go to camera before setting it down.

Y/n: “What are you doing?” I ask him, my heart racing.

Charlie: “You’ll see love.” He says smirking a little as he presses the record button before walking back over to me. “Move over a little love.” He says making me move over a little and he sits where i was laying. He stretches his legs out a little and pats the space in between. I then move to where im sitting in between his legs. He then moves his lips close to my ears before whispering in them. “Show me what you were doing before I showed up.” I look at him in shock before turning my face away from him and hesitantly moving my hand over my clit. I rub it over my shorts again as i feel him slightly stretch my legs out a little more. I see him watching it from the camera and i feel his hand on my thigh slightly caressing it. “You can stop love.” He says making me move my hand away. I lean my back against his chest as i feel his left hand go around my stomach. “Can i touch you love?” He asks making me look at him. I then nod quickly.

Y/n: “Please Char…” i say making him chuckle a little. He moves his right hand slowly down to my clit slowly rubbing me over my shorts for a moment before bringing both of his hands up to my boobs and cups them over my shirt. He then moves to take off my shirt, well his shirt, and throws it somewhere in the room before playing with my boobs. As he kneads them, he kisses my neck and shoulder blades making me moan out from the pleasure. “Char… please…” I say making him chuckle a little against my skin as he moves his right hand over my shorts again. He just rests his hand over my clit before speaking again.

Charlie: “I want you to look into the camera and watch me rub you baby.” He says whispering in my ear before rubbing my clit over my shorts. As I watch Charlie in the camera, I moan out from the pleasure and I can feel myself getting wetter again. After a minute, Charlie stops before speaking again. “Take your shorts off baby. I want to feel your panties.” He says, his voice husky. I comply and lift my hips a little to slide my shorts down my legs before throwing them in the room somewhere. “Good girl.” He says before moving his hand to rub my clit again. “Fuck. You’re so wet love.” He says his left arm wrapping around my waist again. After a few minutes, Charlie can sense I’m getting close so he moves his hand away.

Y/n: “C-Charlie…” I say breathing heavily.

Charlie: “What is it love?”

Y/n: “F-fuck me… with a vibrator… please…” I say making him chuckle a little before giving a small kiss to my shoulder blade.

Charlie: “If that’s what you want love.” He says slightly sucking and kissing on my shoulder blade. “What do you want? A dildo? A bullet?”

Y/n: “A wand…” I say moaning in pleasure from his kisses.

Charlie: “Okay. If that’s what you want baby. You’ll get it.” He says giving one final kiss to my shoulder before reaching over to the bedside table and grabbing one of the vibrating wands. “Ready love?” He asks making me nod and I see him grin in the camera before turning on the vibrator and softly sticking it on my clit above my panties making me moan out.

Y/n: “Oh fuck Charlie!” I moan out as I feel the vibrations. I grip onto Charlie as I buck my hips against the vibrator.

Charlie: “That’s it love.” He says groaning out. As I can feel my high coming again, I speak again.

Y/n: “Charlie, stop for a minute.” I say breathing heavily. Charlie takes the vibrator off of me and looks at me worriedly.

Charlie: “Everything okay baby?” He asks making me nod a little. I lift up my hips to take my panties off as I slide them down my legs before throwing them somewhere in the room and getting comfortable again.

Y/n: “Okay… You can keep going.” I say smiling to him making him smile back. He then pecks my lips before moving the vibrator back over my clit, just this time, directly on it as my clit is fully exposed to the camera. “Fuck!” I yell from the vibrations. I feel Charlie move the vibrator in little circles making me writhe a little.

Charlie: “That’s it love.” He says softly caressing my stomach with his left thumb while his right hand is busy with the toy.

Y/n: “Charlie-“

Charlie: “I know baby. Let go.” He says giving a gentle kiss to my shoulder as he roughly puts the vibrator against my clit to help me cum. I scream out Charlie’s name as I come undone for the first time tonight and he leaves the toy running for a little longer before turning it off and setting it aside.

Y/n: “C-Charlie… finger me…” I say breathless.

Charlie: “You’re needy tonight aren’t you?” He asks chuckling a little before putting his fingers back on my clit like he did earlier. He starts rubbing his fingers against my clit for a moment before pumping a few fingers in.

Y/n: “Oh god Char…” Even with his arm around my waist, I’m still grabbing to try to steady myself.

Charlie: “You like that baby?” He asks as his fingers pump inside me. I moan out a quick yes as I lean my back against his chest and lean my head on his shoulder.

Y/n: “Char… I’m close…”

Charlie: “I know baby. I got you.” He whispers to me as he continues pumping his fingers. After a few pumps, I come all over his fingers and he moves them not long after and brings them up to my mouth. I open my mouth and suck his fingers, sucking up my cum. When he brings his fingers out, he speaks again. “God you’re hot.” He says catching me off guard making me look at him shocked.

Y/n: “W-what?” I ask him shocked. We’ve been dating for a while and had sex before of course but he’s never told me I was hot.

Charlie: “I mean it love. You’re so fucking hot it’s unbelievable.” He says smiling to me making my smile fade just a little as I slightly look away a little. It’s then silence for a moment before he speaks again. “You… think I’m lying to you, don’t you?”

Y/n: “It’s not that I think you’re lying it’s just… unexpected I guess… I’ve never thought of myself that way…” I say before I feel Charlie softly caress my hip with his thumb.

Charlie: “You should love. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Inside and out.” He says before moving my face so I look at him again. “I just want you to see yourself the way I see you.” He says softly before cupping my face a little. “You’re perfect.” He says sincerely looking into my eyes.

Y/n: “You think so?” I ask my voice barely above a whisper.

Charlie: “I know so.” He says before pecking my lips a little again before we start making out a little again. As we make out, Charlie speaks again. “I want to show you just how amazing you are…” He says before kissing me again. “Just how hot you really are.” He says pushing my back flat against the mattress slowly as he kisses me. He caresses my hips as he softly moves his kisses down. He kisses my cheek, my jaw, my neck, all the way down to my chest making me moan out a little. “My babygirl.” He says kissing my chest. “So naked under me. So pretty.” He says kissing my chest again. “So hot.” He says before sucking on my chest a little, definitely gonna leave a hickey, as I moan out again.

Y/n: “Charlieee…” I say making him chuckle a little, making me feel the vibrations against my skin. Then, I feel his right hand’s fingers against my clit making me gasp a little.

Charlie: “Oh god you’re so wet again.” He says groaning a little before rubs me and fingers me a little as he nips at my neck.

Y/n: “Charlie…” I gasp out as he puts a little pressure to my clit as he starts kissing down to my boobs again.

Charlie: “So fucking sexy.” He says sucking on my boobs a little. I wrap my arms around his back as he pleasures me, occasionally messing with his hair. He moves his hand away from my clit and back to my waist, caressing it as he kisses my boobs. “So beautiful.” After a minute, Charlie gets off of me and sits up a little as he takes off his shirt and throws it somewhere in the room. He then goes back to kissing me again as I wrap my arms around his neck. “I am so glad the camera is catching all of this.” He says in between kisses.

Y/n: “I forgot all about it.” I say before moaning again.

Charlie: “You want the feeling of a vibrator against you again?” He asks me as he’s kissing me. I quickly nod my head yes as Charlie reaches over to the nightstand and grabs a purple silicone vibrator. He turns it on and sticks it against my clit before pushing it in. He kisses me again as he pumps the vibrator in and out. “God I love you.” He says in between kisses.

Y/n: “I love you too Char.” I say breathlessly as he continues pumping the vibrator. “G- Fuck!” I moan out throwing my head back. After a few more pumps, I can feel it coming. “Char-“

Charlie: “Cum baby.” He says before I come undone and he pumps a few more times to ride out my high before pulling the vibrator out and setting it aside. Once he gets it set down, he puts his mouth over my clit and licks it a few times to get some of the cum before lifting his head up and standing up. I watch him as he undoes the button and zipper on his jeans before sliding both his jeans and boxers down. “Think you can cum for me one more time?” He asks getting back on the bed.

Y/n: “Yeah.” I say smiling as I still try to catch my breath. I then see Charlie smile again before speaking again.

Charlie: “Good.” He says hovering over me. He then kisses me for another moment before he speaks again. “I want you to watch the camera as I fuck you love. I want you to see just how hot and beautiful you are.” He says before he goes to my sweet spot on my neck and sucks on it as he pushes his dick in me. I watch the camera as Charlie thrusts in and out and sucks on my neck. I turn my head back to Charlie above me and watch him, admiring him. He thrusts a few more times before moving his head to look at me and smiles as he thrusts. He turns his head to look at the camera before speaking again. “Look how hot we are together love.” He says turning to look at me again to motion me to look back at the camera. I chuckle a little watching it before I cup his cheek with my right hand and speak.

Y/n: “I love you Char.”

Charlie: “I love you too babe.” He says and we kiss again, and, without warning, I break again and not long after, Charlie does too before pulling out and laying next to me. We lay there catching our breaths for a moment before I hear Charlie. “Best. Night. Ever.” He says making me chuckle again as I move to lay my head on his chest. “Oh I can’t wait to watch that when I’m away from you again.”

Y/n: “You’re such a goofball Charlie.” I say chuckling.

[the-pretty-boys]

CHARLIE GILLESPIE

via Instagram Stories (17-04-2024)

[purfectstormzz]

Masterlist 1

(Celebs)

A/n: stories that I’ll write in the future will be added on here

Elijah Hewson

End game

I wanna be yours

Enchanted

Million Dollar Man

Robert Keating

It’s not living, if it’s not with you

Alex Turner

Baby I’m yours

Carlos Sainz Jr

Red (Taylor’s version) (serie)

• I knew you were trouble (part 1)

•The moment I knew (part 2)

• Red (part 3)

• The last time (part 4)

• Begin again (part 5)

Daniel Ricciardo

The Alchemy

Logan Sargeant

We’ll be alright

Bradley Will Simpson

Risk it all

Sebastian Stan

Think I need someone older

My love mine all mine

Who I write for:

F1:

Charles Leclerc

Carlos Sainz Jr

Lando Norris

Lewis Hamilton

Daniel Ricciardo

Logan Sargeant

…

Musician’s

Elijah Hewson

Alex Turner

Harry Styles

Josh Jenkinson

Robert Keating

Ryan Mcmahon

Bradley Will Simpson

…

Actors:

Sebastian Stan

Chris Evans

Timotheé Chalamet

Charlie Gillespie

…

Fictional characters:

Aaron Hotchner

Bucky Barnes

Dean Winchester

Sam Winchester

Dallas Winston

Victor Tan

…

Request are always open!

[bweeeb]

OLD FRIENDS

Charlie Gillespie × reader ( Y/n Pitella )

I know no one remembers anymore, but these days I miss the vibe of 2020 and Charlie

Summary: Charlie and the reader haven't spoken since Julie and the Ghosts was canceled, but someone does something about it.

Five years. Five years ago, I found everything that made me the happiest girl in the world. Four years ago, I lost that happiness. I probably sound like the most dramatic person in the world saying that—sorry. Of course, my family will always be one of my greatest joys. Mom and Dad have always done everything for me, and Bella and Léo made me believe I could handle everything I was being exposed to, even though I had no experience at all. But still, it’s impossible not to feel my chest tighten with longing when I think about those who welcomed me during the first few months after Dad had to return to Brazil. Kenny accepting me into the show was one of the biggest turning points of my life when I was just sixteen, and I’ll probably never forgive Netflix for canceling my show.

I had the best six months of my life alongside wonderful people, and that became even clearer when the pandemic hit. The way we stayed connected through video calls, lives, TikToks, interviews, and stories made the monotony and worry of that moment much more bearable. But, of course, after the pandemic passed, the distance between us became a big issue. Plane tickets were expensive, everyone had their own schedules, and then the cancellation of Julie and the Phantoms happened. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much—especially since I couldn’t even be on that stage when Kenny announced Netflix wouldn’t renew our show. Life went on, just as the Earth keeps spinning around the sun, and that’s okay.

My eyes drifted up from my phone, and all I found was my sister staring at me.

" What? " I asked, watching her climb into my bed and throw herself on top of me a millisecond later. " I feel like eating pistachio cookies " she mumbled against the pillow resting on my stomach. “Then just go downstairs, walk up the street, turn left, and buy the pistachio cookies ” I said, and she huffed. Bella is always too lazy to get anything from the shops just up the street from my apartment, and today was no different. “Bella! You’re not ordering cookies and paying double the price through an app when the store is right there.” “I know! I know. Maybe I’ll stop by later when I leave.” “Oh no, you won’t. I wanted you to bring me one too.”

“Well, tough luck,” my sister teased, making me huff without actually getting mad. I turned back to my phone, and a new post caught my attention, accompanied by a familiar voice in the audio. “Hmmm, Charlieeeeeee,” my sister groaned, teasing me, only to get a slap on her arm from me. “Shut up. I’m not buying you cookies after this,” I replied. “Come on. Look at the way you’re staring at him.” She turned and sprawled out beside me, resting her chin on her hands. “I’m just trying to listen to him sing. If you could kindly stay quiet, I’d appreciate it.” The song, apparently called "RODEO," was written by him, and I could almost feel my body combusting along with my mind. Charlie’s voice had always been one of my favorite things in the world since I met him. So much so that, during the time we shared an apartment with Owen for filming, he would hold me in his strong, long arms when I felt homesick, worried, or just plain cold—because, man, that apartment was freezing as fuck—and sing me to sleep. Not that I had a favorite, but Charlie became my best friend, and it was impossible not to cry when we filmed our last scene together, knowing it was the end. “You were in love with him once,” Bella’s voice snapped me out of my head, and I laughed. “I’m pretty sure you two were in love, actually.”

“I was sixteen, living with him, and he played my romantic interest. I won’t deny I had a crush on him, but it was an illusion. I love who he is, obviously. But you all need to stop thinking there was some romance happening.”

“Oh, please. I have eyes. Have you seen the videos of you two? You have! I’ve never seen anyone’s eyes light up like yours did.”

“Yes, I’ve seen them, and I lived it. So thank you, but there’s no need to say more because I treated him, and he treated me, like anyone else. Owen and I were just as close.”

“But you didn’t have the same chemistry with Owen. You and Owen almost never slept in the same bed.”

“Because he had a sort-of girlfriend, and I respect my friends.” Bella rolled her eyes, put her shoes on, and looked at me with mockery. “You’re blind.”

“I’m not blind. I haven’t seen him in five years.” “But you look at him like you’re about to cry.” Bella narrowed her eyes as if challenging me. “Because I miss the best friend I had once.” I got up from the bed, narrowing my eyes back at her. “Then talk to him.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“No!”

“Why not?” “Because I said so!” Our playful argument shifted into something more serious. Bella seemed genuinely intrigued by my hesitation.

“That’s not an answer.” “Of course it is. I’m not texting someone who’s perfectly fine on their own.” Silence hung for two seconds, and then it was too late. Bella grabbed my phone from the bed and ran off, doing something I couldn’t see. “Bella! No!” I yelled, chasing her around my apartment.

“You don’t even have his number? What?” Her voice was pure indignation. “Americans and Canadians don’t use WhatsApp, you idiot.” All my 21-year-old maturity vanished in that second.

“And that’s why you don’t have any of your foreign friends’ numbers? Please. You have SMS.” Bella gritted her teeth, and I let out a loud sigh. “Isabella, put the phone down.”

“Why? Give me one good reason.”

“Your life is a good reason. I suggest you don’t.” “You know what? I’m going to buy cookies. Be right back.” Before I could stop her, Bella pressed the elevator button and closed the doors quickly. Did she seriously just steal my phone?

I rushed to the back exit, but it was pointless. She’d already be halfway there, and there was no way she’d be waiting for me at the cookie shop. So I sat and waited. She wouldn’t do anything crazy, right?

Right?

Wrong.

Half an hour later, she returned with a terrifying smile and a pistachio cookie for me.

“He thinks you should text him.” She shrugged, giving me a smug look.

“What did you do?” “You didn’t log into anything? Computer?” “Mom has the computer because I lent it to her, and you know that.” I clenched my teeth as she laughed. “Don’t worry; I only posted on your Daily account.” Sure, I’d created the unofficial account to talk about a million irrelevant things, but not that.

“Looks like Charlie and S/n need a reunion, don’t you think? @CHARLES_GILLESPIE 🙏😨👀”

The caption sat atop a picture of Bella making a hilariously exaggerated face. "Seriously?" "Delete it if you want."

"Now that roughly 10,000 people have already seen it, yeah, that’ll help." I said, rolling my eyes and deleting the post anyway, knowing full well it was already out there. "Weren’t you going home?" "Are you kicking me out?"

"Yes!" "Okay, okay. Sorry for meddling. I even brought you a cookie as a peace offering—look at the bright side, he answered. Bye, see you tomorrow." As soon as she left, I threw myself on the couch, getting up and pacing around more times than I could count. "Damn it." I muttered. "Fuck, Isabella." What was I supposed to say now?

It had been so long that I had forgotten your name saved in my contacts , cute.

CHARLIE BEAR🧸

— heeyy, she should text me little Pitella. — It's ridiculous how long we haven't spoken.

Of course, Bella didn’t even bother to answer his response to her story. Seriously?

— Hey! How’s it going? — Sorry about that! my phone was stolen for half an hour 😬. — Not cool at all.

That was good, right? Solid? As soon as his reply came almost immediately, I groaned, feeling my anxiety tighten every nerve in my body.

CHARLIE BEAR🧸

— Can I call you? Or is it a bad time?

The moment I sent my confirmation, my phone rang. Running my free hand through my hair instinctively, I realized how absurd that was—he couldn’t see me, after all. "Hey, stranger." His voice found me, warm and familiar, and I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, some of the tension dissipating. "Well, hi."

"How are you? It’s been so long, this is insane." Charlie had always been like that—bright and exuberant—and it was impossible not to let my smile widen.

"I’m good! Just trying to make better decisions. What about you? How have you been?" "Good, you know. Trying to make the world a better place and take care of what we’ve messed up." " Yeah, I’ve seen your trips—they look amazing." "I try to live a bit of good in every place I visit." "Classic Charlie Gillespie effect." I closed my eyes tightly, only reopening them when I heard his soft laughter.

"You’re not wrong. So, tell me—I heard you’re in the cast of some big movie? That’s incredible." "Yeab! It’s a book adaptation. I just hope people won’t be disappointed." "You could never disappoint anyone, beau. " words stretched the smile on my lips further. What was happening? "I try…" I kept it simple, hearing his deep sigh on the other end.

"I’m glad Bella posted that, you know?" He shot it out casually, and I adjusted my position on the couch, hugging my knees to my chest.

"I didn’t mean to bother you like that; she literally stole my phone. She’s seventeen but acts like she’s ten."

"Relax. She didn’t have a Charlie Gillespie at sixteen to keep her entertained." He bragged, and I burst into laughter. "You’re still so full of yourself.''

"I’m realistic." "And very, very arrogant." "I miss you. You know that, right?" His words hit me softly, and my smile turned bittersweet.

"It’s almost a crime that we’ve gone four years without a proper conversation." I whispered, hearing his agreement on the other end. "I still don’t understand why you never accepted moving here and staying with me. You know you’ve always had a room here. Koa would love you here. I would love you here."

"Charlie, you travel too much, and you know I’d drive you insane. I work too much, and I talk too much."

"I loved when you’d speak Portuguese to me." His words carried a chuckle from my end as memories flooded back—the nights he couldn’t sleep and would crawl into my bed, asking me to ramble in my southern-accented Portuguese until he drifted off. It was like soothing a baby.

"We haven’t spoken in four years, and you’re already nearly convincing me to abandon my life in Brazil." His laugh followed, accompanied by what I could imagine was his signature smile.

"I really do miss you. And don’t let the others hear this, but you’re the one I missed the most during this time. You were so soft to cuddle at night—you ruined me for everyone else." He said it like it was casual, but my lips pressed tightly together. What was happening? "I’m sure plenty of girls have kept you just as warm as I did, Charles."

"But none of them were you." His quiet murmur had my teeth sinking into my bottom lip. What was this? "Uh… okay. I’ve been thinking of traveling, but I’m not sure if I’ll have the time off. Maybe I could swing by?"

"Please do."

"Okay! I…" My gaze darted to the clock, my lips pressing tightly again. "I’ve got to go, but let’s keep in touch, please. You’re important to me." I whispered, feeling the vulnerability seep into my tone.

"Go ahead. Just don’t disappear again, please."

"Of course." I replied, and just as I was about to hang up, he called out.

"S/n."

"Yeah?"

"You’re important to me too, okay? Stick around." With that, the call ended, and I was pretty sure my neighbors could have reason to complain about the muffled scream I let out into the couch cushion.I felt sixteen again, back when Charlie first hugged me to sleep in that cold apartment. The circumstances were different, but the emotions were just the same.In the end, maybe Bella wasn’t so wrong to steal my phone after all.

[simplydannie]

I just thought about and listened to "Unsaid Emily" from Julie and the Phantoms, then I thought about Floyd in "I Have to Go Back". I imagined him singing this song to Veneer.

If Veneer is comatose, I can just imagine Floyd singing that song to him hoping Veneer can hear him.

Of course, the line "unsaid Emily" in the song would be replaced by "my dear son Veneer".

Once you mentioned this I went to listen to the song 🥺 As I listened to the lyrics, my heart just broke. The feeling of angst that that I got from listening to that song. It’s definitely something Floyd would sing to him. Floyd would always since to him, to both of them. They loved his voice, it was comforting. This is what I imagined as I was listening to it:

I Have To Go Back (Alternate Ending)

“Leave him. Let’s not give him the pleasure of being merciful.” The woman replied. One of the Bergens still held Velvet in his arms. She was kicking and screaming.

“LET ME GO! Let me go to him. Vennie!” She cried.

“Get her out. The Mistress would like a word with her.” At the snap of her fingers, they all walked out, leaving the severely beaten Veneer to die of his wounds. He began to drift in and out of consciousness, he could hear the faint sound of his sister yelling and screaming his name.

“VENNIE!” He heard her cry. But he couldn’t move. All he felt was loneliness and pain… he was tired, he didn’t want to feel this anymore.

Up above in the vents, two little Trolls watched everything happen. Floyd and Branch watched as the Bergens carried Velvet away.

“Bergens? In Rageous? Who was that woman too?” Branch asked. But Floyd wasn’t listening… his eyes were glued on Veneer and they state they had left him in. Floyd pushed open the vent and made his way down to the Rageon.

“Floyd! Wait!” Branch called and followed after him.

Once on the ground Floyd took off running next to Veneers side. He placed his small little hand on the Rageons cheek, “Ven?” He called out…but there was no response.

“Floyd! We should go before they come back.” Branch called out again.

Floyd could see Veneer still breathing slowly… he was still alive…somewhat.

“Ven? Can you hear me?” He called out again, but Veneer didn’t respond. His eyes were closed and bruised, open wounds on his face and arms. Floyd leaned his tiny head on the Rageons cheek. “This is my fault… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Vennie.” Tears began falling down his face. All Branch could do was marvel at the sight. Why? Why did he care so much for him if he had tortured him? What else was to this story?

Moments of silence passed. Branch then heard a soft voice coming from his brother. He was talking… no, he began to sing to the unconscious Rageon…

“…I should have turned around….” Floyd began singing slowly and softly, taking breaths in between his sobs, “…But I had…Too much pride. No time for…goodbyes.”..

“Floyd?” Branch whispered as he got closer to his brother.

“….If I could take us back, If I could just do that…” Floyd continued. His voice growing louder in hopes Veneer could hear him, in hopes it would wake him up… bring him back. “And write in every empty space. The words ‘I Love You’ in replace…”

Branch placed a hand on his brothers shoulder. Looking at the Rageon, it hardly seemed like he was alive. Was he listening? Could he hear him? Floyd continued…

“If you could only know, I never let… you…go…my dear son, Veneer…” He broke down in tears at the last part. Floyd didn’t want to let him go, he wasn’t ready. There was so much to make up for, so much to do… The little Troll wanted to make him his family… him and his sister. But he let that get taken away from when Floyd almost walked out, when Floyd left them in the hands of that evil woman. He wrapped his tiny arms as far as they could go around Veneers face…. Moments of silence passed… but then it was broken…

“….Floyd…” A whisper came from Veneers mouth. Floyd perked his ears up, a sense of warmth spreading though his body. He hugged Veneer as tight as his little body could.

“I’m not leaving you….both of you. Ever again. I’m getting you out and taking you home.” Floyd promised.

Something clicked inside Branch as he saw everything happen. There was deeper, something more…

“I understand now.” He said to himself.

[woodsborostabathon]

aka the user formerly known as ambersrequel (rip). ceci / 23 / she/her / lesbian / boricua but i get a lil yeehaw with it. i'm not quite as strict with my dni criteria as i am with my headcanons! basically just don't follow me if you're: an anti, under 18, or have a habit of bashing any of the media i'm into. i'm proship and don't play about my faves, so please don't get me started.

speaking of my faves, this is kinda-sorta an about, kinda-sorta a masterlist of them!

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒.

lolita. vc andrews' dollanganger & casteel family sagas. my best friend's exorcism. stephen king's work (mainly carrie & misery). the kingdom of little wounds. the miseducation of cameron post. the mortal instruments. twilight. the virgin suicides. richard siken's work. junji ito's work (mainly tomie, dissolving classroom, & uzumaki). dark water. toradora. blood on the tracks.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐒 (𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑).

scream franchise (esp. films 4-6). saw franchise. the ring. final destination franchise. nightmare on elm street (1984. dream warriors. & 2010). dark water (both vers.). the exorcist. tragedy girls. marrowbone. get out. us. barbarian. abigail. ready or not. candyman (both vers.). mama. orphan. fatal attraction. it (1990). house of wax. the witch. silent night deadly night. village of the damned (1995). bloody birthday. the bad seed (1956). the craft. forget me not. my bloody valentine (2009). sleepaway camp. jennifer's body. silent hill. hereditary. white: curse of the melody. cinderella (2006). sinister (1 & 2). carrie (1976 & 2013). sorority row. ouija: origin of evil. lisa frankenstein . . . full list on my letterboxd bc otherwise, i'd keep going forever.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐒 (𝐍𝐎𝐍-𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑).

lolita (both vers.). the virgin suicides. flowers in the attic (both vers.). but i'm a cheerleader. welcome to the dollhouse. bottoms. the addams family (1991 & values). the hunger games. twilight saga. suicide squad (2016 & 2021). thirteen. heavenly creatures. heathers. gone girl. the room.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐓𝐕 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐒.

euphoria. you. interview with the vampire. house of the dragon. yellowjackets. supernatural. the summer i turned pretty. law & order: special victims unit. cruel summer. american horror story. that 70's show. criminal minds. ginny & georgia. shadowhunters. death note. mirai nikki. black mirror. love, victor. big love. deadly women.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒.

the sims (mainly 2 & 4). crusader kings iii. phasmophobia. dead by daylight. roblox. content warning. fire emblem (awakening & fates).

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂.

xana. ice nine kills. lana del rey. ethel cain. glass animals. flower face. marina. pom pom squad. chappell roan. melanie martinez. the technicolors. idkhow. ayesha e. waterparks. hey violet. mother mother. taylor swift. sza. panic! at the disco. my chemical romance. the weeknd. olivia rodrigo. young miko.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒.

amber freeman. charlie walker. the kirsch siblings. sidney prescott. dewey riley. kirby reed. tara carpenter. chad meeks-martin. liv mckenzie. vince schneider. anika kayoko. amanda young. john kramer. carrie white. nancy thompson. quentin smith. jesse braun. louis & claudia de point du lac. lestat de lioncourt. shauna shipman. jackie taylor. dahlia williams. chris & regan macneil. samara morgan. angela baker. alessa gillespie. wendy christensen. esther coleman. mara chaffee. rhoda penmark. joe goldberg. love quinn. delilah & ellie alves. yuno gasai. misa amane. debbie brody. jennifer check. needy lesnicki. billy chapman. pearl. tomie kawakami. grace le domas. nan (ahs). alicent hightower. rhaenyra targaryen. helaena targaryen. jace velaryon. dolores haze. nate jacobs. maddy perez. cassie & lexi howard. fezco. gomez & morticia addams. wednesday addams. olivia benson. jeanette turner. jackie burkhart. steven hyde. the dollanganger siblings. heaven & tom casteel. isabelle & alec lightwood. magnus bane. simon lewis. carlisle & alice cullen. rosalie hale. cecilia lisbon. dawn wiener. cameron post. abby rivers. gretchen lang. harley quinn.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 & 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐒.

ocs. writing. the flds. some other cults + religious fundamentalism. psychology. video editing. video essays. book collecting (specifically 1st edition vca). lovecore + 'coquette' aesthetics. dogs. being silly & perhaps even goofy.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ 𝐌𝐘 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐒.

slashersimmer (simblr), slashersweethearts (horror fandom ocs).

[cecexwrites]

Glee Masterlist

Name: Arielle 'Baby' Contreras-Hayworth Story: Dance in a Storm/Ready for It/Band of Thieves FC: Maia Reficco

Name: Camden Puckerman Story: Band of Thieves FC: Jack Champion

Name: Chandler Fabray Story: Band of Thieves FC: Emily Alyn Lind

Name: Eduardo 'Eddie' Contreras-Herrera Story: Dance in a Storm/Ready for It/Band of Thieves FC: Taylor Zakhar Perez

Name: Ilia Puckerman Story: Dance in a Storm/Ready for It/Band of Thieves FC: Vince Mattis

Name: Jolie Hartford Story: Band of Thieves FC: Jadah Marie

Name: Maite Contreras-Herrera Story: Dance in a Storm/Ready for It/Band of Thieves FC: Rachel Zegler

Name: Max Contreras-Herrera Story: Dance in a Storm/Ready for It/Band of Thieves FC: Xolo Maridueña

Name: Mila Contreras-Hayworth Story: Dance in a Storm/Ready for It/Band of Thieves FC: Isabela Merced

Name: Olivia 'Liv' Pillsbury Story: The Germ FC: Ellie Bamber

Name: Patrick 'Patch' West Story: Band of Thieves FC: Jordan Fisher

Name: Whittier Kennedy Story: Band of Thieves FC: Savannah Lee May

FC: Wyatt Berry Story: Band of Thieves FC: Charlie Gillespie

[joenateuser]

Charlie Gillespie | via instagram stories

[jazzandother-blog]

When Miles Davis named the five geniuses of American music

(Credits: Far Out / Tom Palumbo)

Dale Maplethorpe (Far Out Magazine):

Miles Davis will go down as arguably one of the most honest musicians who ever became famous, perfectly personified by his attendance at an awards ceremony at the White House. When asked by someone he described as a “politician’s wife” why America is so keen on neglecting jazz, he answered, “Jazz is ignored here because the white man likes to win everything.”

The woman asked in retaliation, “What have you done that’s so important in your life?”, to which he responded, “Well, I’ve changed music five or six times.” 

He’s not wrong, either. The release of specific Miles Davis albums, from Birth of the Cool to Kind of Blue to Bitches Brew, are viewed less as good moments in musical history and instead as defining moments in American culture. He is the most influential trumpeter and one of the most influential musicians to ever take to the stage, with a sound and style that would shape how America – and subsequently the world – viewed the production of sound. 

His honest attitude towards himself and his music contributed to his success. He could critique himself to the extent that he could bring out the best in his music. He could also look at the music surrounding him to see what was missing and pick out what was wrong with the current musical landscape. That often led to him getting in trouble with some artists, but it also meant when we see the names of those he refers to as geniuses, we can take it at face value.

Davis had previously rubbed American composer Leonard Bernstein the wrong way when he refused to play anything from West Side Story, saying he thought it was “corny shit”. However, when he wrote to Bernstein on his 70th birthday, with decades to reflect on the music and see its impact on the world, he was willing to admit that Berstein was a genius. In doing so, he listed the five people who shaped American music, changing it for the better forever. 

Davis dismissed his previous comments in his letter, confessing West Side Story “turned out to be a classic.” He also noted that Bernstein is one of the great geniuses of American Music. “You are one of America’s true geniuses, along with Monk, Gillespie, Mingus and Parker,” he said.

There is no doubt, looking back, that Davis’s comments on Bernstein are correct. He was one of the first composers whose music expanded outside of America, leading to him cementing himself as one of the greats with a plethora of accolades attached to his name. The same can be said about Thelonious Monk, who worked with Davis previously and had a unique improvisational style that broke barriers and showed musicians how limitless their sounds could be.

The other musicians Davis refers to are Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus and Charlie Parker. All of them were musicians who had worked well with Davis in the past and helped contribute towards the musical landscape that eventually enveloped American culture. There is no doubt that Miles Davis changed music about five or six times, as he professed during that White House dinner, and Bernstein, Monk, Gillespie, Mingus and Parker are four or five musicians who helped him change it.

Credits: faroutmagazine.co.uk

[deanandthephantoms]

Gym buddies with Benefits.

A/N: Someone requested me to write a story about a curvy girl who meets her inspiration (Charlie Gillespie) in the Gym.. Summary: Emilia is just a normal curvy girl. She's insecure, anxious and honestly feels a little lost in life. This is until she decides to take matters into her own hands and unexpectedly bumps in to the one man who had been her inspiration for a few years now.. What happens when the unreachable is suddenly within reach? Warnings: Mature content (smut) Wordcount: 8467

Hi, my name is Emilia and I’m just your average kind of girl. Curvy, brown curly hair.. what else? Oh right. I love books even though I have barely any time to read them,  I like music and going to concerts or the theater every now and then.. I love to be out in nature, especially in the woods or on the water. And honestly? I think that’s all you need to know about me. Exciting isn’t it? You don’t think so? Well I agree. Honestly right now I’m not exactly loving life. I mean I have a job that I like and sure I have a roof above my head and I’ve got some lovely friends so I guess it could be worse. But I can’t help but feel like I’m..stuck? My friends are getting their own places, getting into relationships, some are even getting married or starting families.. and then there’s me. Single. No experience whatsoever and no possible partner insight.. I want to get my own place but simply can’t afford that yet and..

-Tumblr wouldn't allow me to put the full story in here so click this ^ link to continue reading.. Enjoy! <3 -

[scotianostra]

On November 1st 1969 Morag Siller the actress, voice artist, and radio personality was born in Edinburgh.

Aged three Morag, along with her twin brother Colin, were adopted and brought up in the capital’s Greenbank district. She came to terms with being adopted with forthright honesty, “I was lucky to have been adopted by such a loving family” she once said. “I wouldn’t change things for the world.” She attended James Gillespie’s High School where she first wanted to be a pianist, but came to the conclusion she would not be able to make a career out of it, Morag also thought about joining the police force, but caught the acting bug and began to take a keen interest in drama often appearing in the school’s plays.After leaving school she attended the Edinburgh Acting School, at 18 she moved to London where she trained at the Sylvia Young School and at Rada.

While still a student she landed a role as a jitterbug dancer in David Puttnam’s film Memphis Belle, directed by fellow Scot Michael Caton-Jones.

Siller appeared in many roles on television – being cast in semi-regular roles such as Flora Kilwillie in Monarch of the Glen, Leona in Casualty (she had a permanent crush on Derek Thompson’s charge nurse Charlie) and a Dingle in Emmerdale. She won an award for the role in Casualty and also appeared in Doctors, EastEnders, Fiona’s Story (with Jeremy Northam and Gina McKee) and Hetty Winthorp Investigates.

She appeared in several musicals – West Side Story, Les Miserables and Mamma Mia! both in the West End and on tour around the UK. Siller appeared in the world tour of Mamma Mia! and performed the show in China.

At the first day of rehearsals for Les Miserables the cast were brought together to meet the orchestra and Siller recognised a familiar face. “I know you” she said to the horn player. “We were at school together.” She married Tim Nicholson at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh in 2005. In 2013 she played a central role in some gripping scenes in Coronation Street.

She married Tim Nicholson, a classical musician at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh in 2005. She was devoted to Scotland (“I’m never as happy as when I’m in Scotland” she told a reporter) and often returned to visit friends and family - she and her husband holidayed every year in Orkney. a friend also commented (that) “Morag was besotted by Scotland: Edinburgh and Scotland defined her personality.”

Morag and Tim had been about to adopt a child in 2011 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She wnet on to became a patron of two cancer charities, for which she organised fundraisers, and had hoped to resume the adoption process. But the cancer returned and she was told it was incurable. Morag sadly passed away on April 15th 2016.

[jpbjazz]

LÉGENDES DU JAZZ

DIZZY GILLESPIE, MAITRE DU BEBOP Né le 21 octobre 1917 à Cheraw, en Caroline du Sud, John Birks ‘’Dizzy’’ Gillespie était le plus jeune des neuf enfants de James et Lottie Gillespie. Le père de Dizzy est mort en 1927 lorsqu’il avait seulement onze ans.

Gillespie avait commencé à jouer du piano à l’âge de seulement quatre ans. Gillespie avait toute une fanfare à sa disposition puisque son père était le leader d’un groupe local. Après avoir appris le piano, Gillespie avait commencé à jouer du trombone et de la trompette en autodidacte à l’âge de douze ans. À partir du moment où Gillespie avait entendu son idole Roy Eldridge jouer à la radio, il avait rêvé de devenir un musicien de jazz.

Les parents de Gillespie étaient méthodistes. Gillespie avait tiré un grand enseignement de son éducation religieuse. Comme il le déclarera plus tard, "The Sanctified Church had deep significance for me musically. I first learned the significance of rhythm there and all about how music can transport people spiritually."

Gillespie avait obtenu un bourse pour étudier au Laurinburg Institute en Caroline du Nord, qu’il avait fréquenté durant deux ans avant de déménager à Philadelphie avec sa famille en 1935. Gillespie s’était mérité son surnom de Dizzy en raison de son humour et de son caractère capricieux. DÉBUTS DE CARRIÈRE Gillespie avait décroché son premier contrat professionnel comme membre du Frank Fairfax Orchestra en 1935. Il s’était joint par la suite aux orchestres d’Edgar Hayes et de Teddy Hill, où il avai5 pris la relève de Frankie Newton comme second trompettiste en mai 1937. C’est avec le groupe de Hill que Gillespie avait enregistré son premier disque, ‘’King Porter Stomp.’’ De 1937 à 1944, Gillespie avait également fait partie des groupes de swing de Benny Carter et Charlie Barnet.

Gillespie était demeuré avec l’orchestre de Hill durant un an, avant de quitter pour collaborer avec d’autres formations. En 1939, avec l’aide de son épouse Lorraine, Gillespie s’était joint au Cab Calloway’s Orchestra. C’est avec ce groupe que Dizzy avait enregistré une de ses premières compositions intitulée ‘’Pickin’ the Cabbage.’’

Mais le climat n’était pas toujours au beau fixe entre Dizzy et Calloway. Ce dernier avait finalement de congédier Gillespie à la fin de 1941, après que les deux hommes en soient venus aux coups. Les circonstances de l’incident sont racontées par Dizzy, Milt Hinton et Jonah Jones dans le film de Jean Bach intitulé ‘’The Spitfall Story’’, réalisé en 1997. En réalité, l’altercation n’était qu’un prétexte, car Calloway n’appréciait pas le caractère espiègle de Dizzy et son approche aventureuse des solos.

Lors d’une pratique, un membre du groupe avait lancé une boulette de papier. Calloway, qui était de mauvaise humeur, avait aussitôt accusé Gillespie d’être responsable de l’incident, mais celui-ci avait refusé de prendre le blâme. À bout de patience, Gillespie avait frappé la jambe de Calloway avec un couteau. Calloway, qui s’en était tiré avec des blessures mineures à la cuisse et à la cheville, avait aussitôt congédié Gillespie . Quelques jours plus tard, Gillespie avait tenté de présenter ses excuses à Calloway, mais ce dernier n’avait rien voulu entendre.

Lors de son séjour dans l’orchestre de Calloway, Gillespie avait commencé à composer de la musique pour les big bands de Woody Herman et de Jimmy Dorsey. Il avait aussi accompagné d’autres groupes, plus particulièrement l’orchestre d’Ella Fitzgerald, qui était composé de membres du big band de Chick Webb.

Gillespie n’avait pas participé à la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Conscient du racisme qui prévalait aux États-Unis, il avait répondu aux commissaires lors de son entraînement: "So if you put me out there with a gun in my hand and tell me to shoot at the enemy, I'm liable to create a case of 'mistaken identity' of who I might shoot." Sa candidature avait donc été rejetée. LA FONDATION DU BEBOP En 1943, Dizzy s’était joint à l’orchestre de Earl Hines. Le compositeur et chef d’orchestre Gunther Schuller avait un jour déclaré: ‘’In 1943 I heard the great Earl Hines band which had Bird in it and all those other great musicians. They were playing all the flatted fifth chords and all the modern harmonies and substitutions and Gillespie runs in the trumpet section work. Two years later I read that that was 'bop' and the beginning of modern jazz... but the band never made recordings.’’

Quant à Gillespie, il avait affirmé au sujet de cette époque: "[P]eople talk about the Hines band being 'the incubator of bop' and the leading exponents of that music ended up in the Hines band. But people also have the erroneous impression that the music was new. It was not. The music evolved from what went before. It was the same basic music. The difference was in how you got from here to here to here... naturally each age has got its own shit."

Gillespie s’était joint par la suite au big band de Billy Eckstine, un collaborateur de longue date de Hines. C’est dans le cadre de sa collaboration avec l’orchestre d’Eckstine que Gillespie avait retrouvé Charlie Parker avec qui il avait déjà joué lors de son passage dans l’orchestre de Hines. En 1945, Gillespie avait quitté l’orchestre d’Eckstine parce qu’il désirait jouer avec de petites formations (‘’small combos’’). À l’époque, un ‘’small combo’’ comprenait cinq musiciens au maximum: un trompettiste, un saxophoniste, un pianiste, un contrebassiste et un batteur.

Aujourd’hui considéré comme la première manifestation du jazz moderne, le bebop avait été très impopulaire au début et n’avait pas été perçu de façon aussi positive que d’autres musiques comme le swing, par exemple. De plus, comme musique de danse, le swing avait beaucoup plus d’adeptes que le bebop qui était surtout réservé à des initiés. Mais le swing reposant souvent sur de grandes formations, il était condamné à plus ou moins brève échéance. Plusieurs musiciens de bebop étaient d’ailleurs issus du swing, comme Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Kenny Clarke, Oscar Pettiford et Dizzy. Par l’entremise de ces musiciens, un nouveau vocabulaire musical était né.

Le bebop était particulièrement reconnu pour ses jams sessions, qui étaient devenus une sorte de laboratoire pour l’expérimentation. Les jam sessions les plus populaires avaient eu lieu au Minton’s Playhouse et au Monroe’s Uptown Playhouse de New York et mettaient en vedette des musiciens comme Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Charlie Christian, Max Roach et Thelonious Monk.

Parker était si innovateur que lorsqu’il modifiait des standards comme ‘’Groovin’ High’’, ‘’Woody ‘n’ You’’ et ‘’Salt Peanuts’’, ces pièces devenaient presque méconnaissables tant sur le plan harmonique que rythmique. La pièce ‘’Woody ‘’n’’ You’’ a été enregistrée le 16 février 1944 lors d’une session dirigée par Coleman Hawkins, avec Gillespie à la trompette, et est considérée comme le premier enregistrement bop de l’histoire. En plus de participer à des enregistrements de l’orchestre d’Eckstine, Gillespie avait commencé à enregistrer de façon intensive comme leader et accompagnateur au début de l’année 1945. Conscient que le bebop méritait mieux que d’être confiné dans de petits clubs, Gillespie avait décidé de frapper le grand coup le 12 juin 1945 et de se produire au New York’s Town Hall. Malheureusement, l’enregistrement de ce concert n’avait été publié qu’en 2005. Soulignant la contribution du bebop à l’histoire du jazz, Gillespie avait déclaré plus tard: "The music of Charlie Parker and me laid a foundation for all the music that is being played now. Our music is going to be the classical music of the future.’’

À la fin de 1945, Gillespie avait fondé son premier big band, le Dizzy Gillespie and His Bebop Six. L’orchestre, qui comprenait Charlie Parker, avait entrepris un contrat à long terme au club de Billy Berg à Los Angeles en décembre 1945. La réaction du public avait été mitigée et le groupe n’avait pas tardé à être démantelé. En février 1946, Gillespie avait signé un contrat avec les disques Bluebird, une filiale de RCA qui l’assurait d’une distribution accrue pour ses albums. La même année, Gillespie avait fait une apparition avec son big band dans le film ‘’Jivin‘ in Be-Bop.’’

Après avoir collaboré avec Parker, Gillespie avait dirigé d’autres petits groupes (notamment avec Milt Jackson, John Coltrane, Ray Brown, Kenny Clarke, James Moody, J.J. Johnson et Yusef Lateef) et avait mis sur pied de nouveaux big bands à partir de 1947. Grâce à ses big bands et aux arrangements fournis par Tadd Dameron, Gil Fuller et George Russell, Dizzy avait contribué à accroître la popularité du bebop. La fin des années 1940 avait aussi été marquée par les premières incursions de Gillespie dans le jazz cubain, comme le démontrait l’engagement de Chano Pozo et de Sabu Martinez dans ses big bands.

Gillespie avait également participé à plusieurs éditions du Jazz at the Philarmonic du producteur Norman Granz. Gillespie et son Bee Bop Orchestra avaient aussi été en vedette dans la 4e édition de Cavalcade du Jazz tenue au stade Wrigley Field de Los Angeles le 12 septembre 1948. Le concert était produit par Leo Hefflin Sr. À l’époque, Gillespie était de retour d’une tournée en Europe où sa musique avait remporté beaucoup de succès. Le programme de la Calvalcade avait louangé "the musicianship, inventive technique, and daring of this young man has created a new style, which can be defined as off the chord solo gymnastics." Participaient également au concert Frankie Laine, Little Miss Cornshucks, The Sweethearts of Rhythm, The Honeydrippers, Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Witherspoon, The Blenders et The Sensations.

En 1948, Gillespie a été impliqué dans un accident de circulation quand la bicyclette qu’il conduisait avait été renversée par une automobile. Légèrement blessé, Gillespie s’était vu accorder une somme de seulement 1000$ en guise de compensation, et ce, même si l’accident avait affecté temporairement la qualité de son jeu.

En 1951, Gillespie avait fondé sa propre maison de disques, Dee Gee Records, mais l’entreprise avait dû fermer ses portes deux ans plus tard. Le 6 janvier 1953, Gillespie avait organisé une fête pour l’anniversaire de sa femme Lorraine au club Snookie’s de Manhattan. Dans le cadre des festivités, la forme de sa trompette avait été déformée lorsque deux danseurs étaient tombés accidentellement sur l’instrument. Gillespie avait tellement apprécié le nouveau son de sa trompette qu’il s’en était fait fabriquer une nouvelle avec une courbe de 45 degrés qui était devenue plus tard sa marque de commerce. Deux autres signes distinctifs de Gillespie résidait dans ses joues gonflées à bloc et son célèbre béret. En 1953, Gillespie avait accompagné Parker, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell et Max Roach dans le cadre célèbre concert de Massey Hall à Toronto.

En 1956, Dizzy avait monté un groupe afin de participer à une tournée du département d’État au Moyen-Orient. La tournée avait remporté tellement de succès que Dizzy s’était mérité le surnom d’’’Ambassadeur du Jazz.’’ Parallèlement, Gillespie avait continué de diriger un big band qui s’était produit d’un bout à l’autre des États-Unis et qui comprenait des musiciens comme Pee Wee Moore entre autres. En 1957, l’orchestre avait enregistré un album live au Festival de jazz de Newport avec la pianiste Mary Lou Williams comme artiste invitée.

En 1960, Gillespie avait également rendu hommage à Duke Ellington dans un album intitulé ‘’A Portrait of Duke Ellington’’.

GILLESPIE ET LE JAZZ AFRO-CUBAIN À la fin des années 1940, Gillespie avait été impliqué dans un mouvement qui fut qualifié de jazz afro-cubain. Ce mouvement contenait des éléments de musique afro-latine en plus d’être influencé par la musique populaire et la salsa. Le jazz afro-cubain était basé sur les rythmes traditionnels de la musique en provenance d’Afrique et des Caraïbes. Un des principaux leaders du jazz afro-cubain était Chano Pozo. C’est Mario Bauza, un trompettiste de jazz latin, qui avait présenté Pozo à Gillespie en 1947. Pozo était éventuellement devenu le joueur de conga du groupe de Gillespie.

Dizzy avait également travaillé avec Mario Bauza dans les clubs de la 52e rue et dans certaines salles de danse comme le Palladium et le Théâtre Apollo de Harlem. Il avait aussi collaboré avec Bauza dans les orchestres de Chick Webb et de Cab Calloway. Les deux hommes étaient restés amis toute leur vie. Éventuellement, Gillespie avait contribué à développer le jazz afro-cubain et lui avait permis d’atteindre sa maturité. Même si le jazz afro-cubain contenait des éléments de bebop, il était beaucoup plus populaire auprès du grand public car il était beaucoup plus dansant que le bebop. Les plus grandes contributions de Gillespie à la musique afro-cubaine peuvent être observées dans les pièces ‘’Manteca’’ et ‘’Tin Tin Deo’’, qui avaient toutes deux été co-écrites avec Pozo. Gillespie a aussi commandé la pièce de George Russell "Cubano Be, Cubano Bop", sur laquelle jouait Pozo.

En 1977, Gillespie avait fait la rencontre du trompettiste Arturo Sandoval lors d’une croisière à La Havane. En 1990, Sandoval avait fait une tournée avec Gillespie et l’orchestre des Nations-Unies, mais il avait abandonné la formation lors d’une escale à Rome. DERNIÈRES ANNÉES Dans les années 1980, Gillespie s’était vu confier la direction de l’orchestre des Nations-Unies, qui était partie en tournée durant trois ans avec la chanteuse brésilienne Flora Purim. Cette dernière avait plus tard remercié Gillespie d’avoir augmenté sa compréhension du jazz. En 1982, Gillespie avait été contacté par le chanteur Stevie Wonder afin de jouer sur sa pièce ‘’So I Do.’’ Dizzy avait également participé au tournage du film ‘’The Winter in Lisbon.’’ La bande sonore du film, à laquelle Dizzy avait participé, a été enregistrée en 1990 et a été publiée l’année suivante. Le film racontait l’histoire d’un pianiste de jazz américain en exil qui tombait amoureux d’une femme mystérieuse lors d’un séjour au Portugal.

En 1991, durant un engagement à Emeryville en Californie, Gillespie avait été victime d’un malaise. On lui avait finalement diagnostiqué un cancer du pancréas. Après avoir présenté un dernier concert, Gillespie avait annulé le reste de la tournée pour des raisons médicales. Dizzy avait dirigé sa dernière session d’enregistrement le 25 janvier 1992. Le 26 novembre 1992, Gillespie avait été l’objet d’un hommage à Carnegie Hall dans le cadre de son 75e anniversaire de naissance. Il s’agissait de la 33e apparition de Gillespie à Carnegie Hall. Parmi les musiciens présents, on remarquait le trompettiste Jon Faddis, les saxophonistes James Moody et Paquito D’Rivera, ainsi que le Mike Longo Trio.

Le 6 janvier 1993, Dizzy Gillespie est décédé d’un cancer du pancréas à l’âge de soixante-quinze ans. Il a été inhumé au Flushing Cemetery, dans le Queens. C’est Mike Longo qui avait prononcé l’éloge funèbre. La veuve de Gillespie, Lorraine Willis, l’avait suivi dans la tombe en 2004.

En 1937, Dizzy jouait avec le groupe de Hayes à Washington, D.C., lorsqu’il avait rencontré Lorraine, une jeune danseuse nommée qui faisait la navette entre Baltimore, Philadelphie et New York. Même si Lorraine n’avait pas immédiatement répondu à ses avances, Dizzy était accroché. Le couple s’était marié le 9 mai 1940. Excellente femme d’affaires, Lorraine était éventuellement devenue sa gérante. Gillespie avait déclaré à son sujet: ‘’Lorraine knows how to handle money, [...] Without her, I wouldn't have a quarter.’’ Le couple n’avait pas eu d’enfant, mais était demeuré uni jusqu’à la mort de Dizzy en 1993.

Lorraine s’était convertie au catholicisme avec la pianiste Mary Lou Williams en 1957. En 1953, Gillespie avait ey une liaison avec la compositrice Connie Bryson, qui lui avait donné une fille, Jeanie, le 10 mars 1958. Jeanie était éventuellement devenue chanteuse de jazz. Dizzy avait d’ailleurs contribué à son éducation. Dizzy avait rencontré Bryson, une pianiste formée à la Juilliard School of Music, au cabaret Birdland de New York.

Doté d’une grande conscience sociale, Gillespie avait participé en 1962 avec l’acteur George Matthews au tournage du court-métrage d’animation ‘’The Hole’’ qui décrivait les risques d’une apocalypse nucléaire en pleine crise des missiles de Cuba. Le film avait éventuellement remporté un Academy Award dans la catégorie du meilleur court-métrage d’animation. Gillespie s’est également présenté comme candidat indépendant lors des élections présidentielles de 1964. Évidemment, sa candidature était une farce destinée à démontrer à quel point le peuple afro-américain était considéré comme une quantité négligeable par le système électoral américain.

Sur un ton humoristique, Gillespie avait promis que s’il était élu, la Maison Blanche serait rebaptisée la Maison du Blues. Il avait aussi révélé la composition de son cabinet qui serait formé de Duke Ellington au poste de secrétaire d’État, de Miles Davis comme directeur de la CIA, de Max Roach comme secrétaire de la Défense, de Charles Mingus comme secrétaire de la paix, de Ray Charles comme directeur de la Bibliothèque du Congrès, de Louis Armstrong comme secrétaire à l’Agriculture, de Mary Lou Williams comme ambassadrice au Vatican, de Thelonious Monk comme ambassadeur itinérant et de Malcolm X comme Attorney général ! La co-listière de Gillespie était Phyllis Dyer. Gillespie avait éventuellement décidé de se retirer et de donner son appui à Lyndon B. Johnson. Des années auparavant, des macarons proposant la candidature de Dizzy comme président avaient été publiés par l’agence de publicité de Gillespie. Ces macarons sont aujourd’hui devenus des objets de collection. En 1971, Gillespie avait annoncé qu’il se présenterait de nouveau à la présidence, mais il s’était retiré de la course au dernier moment.

Peu après la mort de Charlie Parker en 1955, Gillespie avait discuté avec un spectateur à la fin d’un concert. Les deux hommes avaient discuté du sort de l’humanité et de la nécessité de l’élimination du racisme. Un autre sujet de discussion avait été la doctrine de la Baha’i Faith, une religion humaniste à laquelle Gillespie avait finit par adhérer après l’assassinat de Martin Luther King en 1968. L’approche universaliste de cette religion avait fait de Gillespie un plus grand humaniste et avait accru son intérêt pour son héritage africain.

Depuis le milieu des années 1960, Gillespie s’était établi avec sa femme à Englewood au New Jersey. L’école secondaire de l’endroit, le Dwight Morrow High School, a d’ailleurs été rebaptisée le Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium en son honneur.

Dizzy avait remporté plusieurs honneurs au cours de sa carrière. En 1989, les prix Grammy lui avaient décerné un Lifetime Achievement Award. L’année suivante, le Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, dans le cadre du 100e anniversaire de l’histoire du jazz, lui avait remis le Kennedy Centers Honor Award et le Duke Ellington Award afin de couronner sa carrière de cinquante ans comme compositeur, musicien et chef d’orchestre. En 1989, le Berklee College of Music avait décerné à Gillespie un doctorat honorifique en musique. Deux ans plus tard, l’American Academy of Achievement lui avait attribué le Golden Plate Award. Le trophée avait été présenté par le trompettiste Wynton Marsalis.

En 2002, Gillespie a été intronisé à titre posthume au sein de l’International Latin Music Hall of Fame afin de souligner sa contribution au développement de la musique afro-cubaine. En 2014, Gillespie a également été admis au New Jersey Hall of Fame. Gillespie a publié son autobiographie en 1979 sous le titre de ‘’To Be, or Not…to Bop.’’ Avec Louis Armstrong et Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie est considéré comme un des plus grands trompettistes de l’histoire du jazz. C-2023-2024, tous droits réservés, Les Productions de l’Imaginaire historique SOURCES:

‘’Dizzy Gillespie.’’ Wikipedia, 2022. ‘’Dizzy Gillespie, American Musician.’’ Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023. ‘’Dizzy Gillespie Biography.’’ Biography.com, 2023. ‘’John Birks ‘’Dizzy Gillespie.’’ National Endowment for the Arts, 2023.