Stephane Grappelli

Stephane Grappelli (January 26, 1908 - December 1, 1997) was a pioneer jazz violinist who founded the quintet of the Hot Club of France with Django Reinhardt. It was the first all-string jazz band.

He was born in Paris, France to Italian parents and started his musical career as a silent film pianist.

After his career with Reinhardt, he appeared on hundreds of recordings including sessions with Oscar Peterson, Jean-Luc Ponty, Paul Simon and classical violinist Yehudi Menuhin.

Quotation

• "Stephane is like one of those jugglers who send 10 plates into the air and recovers them all." Yehudi Menuhin, on Grappelli's skilled improvisation.

Stephane Grappelli died in 1997 and was interred in Paris' famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

Definitive DVD profile and 150,000 word biography is available at www.musiconearth.co.uk

External Link

• Obituary