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.
