Django (left) & Grappelli (right).

Stephane Grappelli (January 26, 1908 – December 1, 1997) was a pioneer jazz violinist who founded the quintet of the "Quintette du Hot Club de France" with Django Reinhardt. It was the first all-string jazz band. January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jazz is a musical art form characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation. ... The violin is a stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a fifth apart. ... Django Reinhardt as a boy Jean Baptiste Django Reinhardt ( January 23, 1910 – May 16, 1953) was a Belgian Gypsy jazz musician. ...

He was born in Paris, France to Italian parents and started his musical career as a silent film pianist. The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... The Italian Republic or Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ...

After his career with Reinhardt, he appeared on hundreds of recordings including sessions with jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, pop singer Paul Simon, mandolin player David Grisman, and classical violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson is a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. ... The violin is a stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a fifth apart. ... Jean-Luc Ponty (born September 29, 1942) is a versatile French violinist and jazz composer. ... Paul Simon released his self-titled album in January of 1972, (see 1972 in music) about two years after he split up with musical partner Art Garfunkel. ... David Grisman is a noted bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. ... Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE (April 22, 1916—March 12, 1999) was an American-born violinist, violist, and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. ...

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.

Miscellany

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

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

External Link

• Obituary  (http://www.cyberbites.com/marleys_ghost/grappelliobit.html)