Stéphane Grappelli

Perhaps the greatest jazz violinist of all time, Stephane Grappelli played in various bands before meeting Gypsy guitarist Diango Reinhardt in 1933; with three others they formed the legendary Quintet of the Hot Club of France, performing until World War II separated them in 1939. Celebrated throughout Europe in the 1950s and 1960s, Grappelli became known internationally in the early 1970s and toured the world almost until his death at the age of 89. He released over one hundred albums—many of them still in print—and appeared on countless others.