Grappelli, Stephane

            
             Grappelli, Stephane (1908-1997), French violinist, one of the few .
            
             to adapt the violin successfully to jazz. Grappelli was born in Paris. .
             He .
             studied classical music at the Paris Conservatoire, but after hearing .
             American improvisational jazz recordings, he dropped out of school and .
             began .
             playing in that style.
             By the 1930s Grappelli was giving concerts and recording with the great .
             Belgian jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt as part of the Quintette du Hot .
             Club .
             de France. Their quintet was one of the most popular attractions in .
             France, .
             occasionally performing with Josephine Baker, George Gershwin, and .
             Louis .
             Armstrong. After a tour in London, England, in 1939, Grappelli stayed .
             on .
             during the years of World War II (1939-1945). He returned to France in .
             the .
             late 1940s.
             Grappelli spent the 1950s and 1960s playing nightclubs in France and .
             England. He made his first American appearance in 1969 at the Newport .
             Jazz .
             Festival. He continued touring in the 1970s and 1980s, and in 1988 an .
             array .
             of classical and jazz musicians joined Grappelli in a gala concert at .
             Carnegie Hall for his 80th birthday celebration.