Django Reinhardt

Biography, videos, discography, news, photos

Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt gallery Django Reinhardt gallery Django Reinhardt gallery Django Reinhardt gallery Django Reinhardt gallery
5 slides
Django Reinhardt is jazz guitar genius born in Belgium in 1910 into a family of Manouche gypsies. He was introduced to music early in his life. By age 18, he already played violin, guitar and banjo. He was first introduced to jazz music in 1930, when he listened to Louis Armstrong. Fascinated by this music he learned the songs for his own enjoyment.

He started his famous Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli in 1934. A band of fourteen musicians including Django, Stéphane, Roger Chaput, and Louis Vola were commissioned to play at the Hotel Cambridge at teatime.
1939 found the Quintet touring in England when the war broke out. Django returned to Paris while Stéphane remained in England. Django played and recorded throughout the war years substituting Hubert Rostaing's clarinet for Stephen's violin.
After the war he was rejoined by Stéphane and they again played and recorded. He toured briefly with Duke Ellington in America and returned to Paris where he continued his career until 1951 when he retired to the small village of Samois sur Seine.

On May 16th 1953 Django suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and died, leaving behind his wife Sophie and son Babik.

Django Reinhardt left behind a music genre and subculture that remains active to this day. His style is unique and sounds as fresh and lively today. To this day, he still has a spot at the most select league of guitar players and musicians in history.

Videos

Django Reinhardt - movie trailer 01:49 Django Reinhardt - movie trailer
Legend of Django Reinhardt (full story) 52:41 Legend of Django Reinhardt (full story)
The Genius of Django Reinhardt 10:59 The Genius of Django Reinhardt

Not a Veojam member yet?

SIGNUP FREE
Copyright © 2008 Veojam.com.
All rights reserved. DMCA Complaint