STEPHANE GRAPPELLI

• In 1928, while playing in a French orchestra, Stephane heard jazz violinist Joe Venuti perform.  This was the first time he had heard a jazz violin.  After meeting composer George Gershwin he knew jazz would forever be apart of his life.
• Stephane would play with many famous musicians in his life, but his most famous partner was jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.  In 1933 they would would join up with two other guitarist and a double bass player to form the Quintette du Hot Club de Paris.  
• The band would become very famous in Paris and go on to write over 45 original compositions.  They were forced to break up in 1939 when World War II broke out in Europe.
• Through the 1940s and 1950s Stephane appeared on albums with many famous musicians of the swing jazz era.  This included composer Duke Ellington and jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.
• Throughout his career he appeared on many albums starring many different styles of music.  This included playing on classical and jazz records, and even appearing on rock records by bands like Pink Floyd and pop singer Paul Simon.
• In 1997 he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards and was also inducted into the Down Beat jazz hall of fame.

jazz facts