In 1956 Gillespie organized a band to go on a State Department tour of the Middle East which was extremely well received internationally and earned him the nickname "the Ambassador of Jazz".
Godine 1956, Gilespi je pod pokroviteljstvom Stejt departmenta organizovao bend za turneju po Bliskom istoku, koja je naišla na izuzetno dobar međunarodni prijem i posle koje je dobio nadimak "Ambasador džeza".