Stéphane Grappelli -Famous French Violinist

Stéphane Grappelli (26 January 1908 – 1 December 1997) was a French jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt. It was one of the first (and arguably the most famous) of all-string jazz bands.

Grappelli was born in Paris, France to Italian parents. His mother died when he was four and his father left to fight in World War I. As a result he was sent to an orphanage. Grappelli started his musical career as a performer on the streets of Paris and Montmartre with a violin. He began playing the violin at age 12, and attended the Conservatoire de Paris studying music theory, between 1924 and 1928. He continued to street perform on the side until he gained fame in Paris as a violin virtuoso.

Stéphane Grappelli "Tiger Rag"