Partner Joseph Oldenhove
Queer Places:
Père Lachaise Cemetery, 16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris, France
Stéphane
Grappelli (26 January 1908 – 1 December 1997) was a French jazz violinist who
founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in
1934. It was one of the first all-string jazz bands. He has been called "the
grandfather of jazz violinists" and continued playing concerts around the
world well into his 80s.[1]
For the first three decades of his career, he was billed using a gallicised spelling of his last name, Grappelly, reverting to Grappelli in 1969. The latter, Italian spelling, is now used almost universally when referring to the violinist, including reissues of his early work.
In May 1935 Grappelli had a brief affair with Sylvia Caro that resulted in a daughter named Evelyne. Sylvia remained in Paris with her daughter for the duration of World War II. Father and daughter were reunited in 1946 when Evelyne travelled to London from France to stay with Grappelli for about a year.[12] From 1952 to 1980 he shared much of his life with a female friend, Jean Barclay, for whom he felt a deep brotherly affection.[13][14] However Grappelli never married and it is widely accepted that he was gay;[15] [16] in 1981 he met Joseph Oldenhove, who would be his companion until his death.[17]
He died in Paris the end of 1997 after undergoing a hernia operation. He is buried in the city's Père Lachaise Cemetery.
My published books:
