Who Is Django Reinhardt? Age, Biography and Wiki
As of 2025, Django Reinhardt would have been 115 years old, had he been alive. His extraordinary life spanned from 1910 to 1953, during which he revolutionized the world of jazz with his innovative guitar techniques and compositions. Reinhardt was a pioneer of the "Gypsy Jazz" style, blending traditional Romani music with American jazz influences. His biography showcases not just his musical genius but also the resilience he exhibited following a tragic accident that severely injured two of his fingers.
For more information on his life and accomplishments, visit Django Reinhardt's Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Guitarist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1910 |
| Age | 43 Years |
| Birth Place | Liberchies, Pont-à-Celles, Belgium |
| Horoscope | Aquarius |
| Country | Belgium |
| Date of death | 16 May, 1953 |
| Died Place | Fontainebleau, France |
Popularity
Django Reinhardt's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
In his prime, Django Reinhardt stood approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. His weight fluctuated around 140 lbs (63.5 kg). While specific body measurements aren't extensively documented, his dexterity and agility on the guitar were certainly above average for any musician, allowing him to perform breathtaking solos even with the limitations from his injuries.
While he tried to continue with his music, war with the Nazis presented Reinhardt with a potentially catastrophic obstacle, as he was a Romani jazz musician. Beginning in 1933, all German Romani were barred from living in cities, herded into settlement camps, and routinely sterilized.
Romani men were required to wear a brown Gypsy ID triangle sewn at chest level on their clothing, similar to the pink triangle that homosexuals wore, and much like the yellow Star of David that Jews had to subsequently wear. During the war, Romani were systematically killed in concentration camps.
In France, they were used as slave labour on farms and in factories. During the Holocaust an estimated 600,000 to 1.5 million Romani throughout Europe were killed.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Django Reinhardt was married to Marie-Jeanne "Nuit" Reinhardt. The couple shared a deep bond, and their relationship was a significant part of Django's life. Although specific details about Django's alleged relationships or boyfriends are scant, his marriage was a central part of his personal life. His children, notably Babik Reinhardt, have also continued his musical legacy, proving that the Reinhardt name remains synonymous with exceptional guitar talent.
His French, Alsatian father, Jean Eugene Weiss, domiciled in Paris with his wife, went by Jean-Baptiste Reinhardt, his wife's surname, to avoid French military conscription. His mother, Laurence Reinhardt, was a dancer. The birth certificate refers to "Jean Reinhart, son of Jean Baptiste Reinhart, artist, and Laurence Reinhart, housewife, domiciled in Paris".
Net Worth and Salary
Though Django Reinhardt achieved a level of fame during his lifetime, exact financial records from that era are scarce. Estimations suggest that by the time of his passing in 1953, he had a net worth equivalent to several hundred thousand dollars today, considering various album sales, concerts, and radio appearances. Django's artistic influence has greatly appreciated over the years, thereby increasing the value of his estate—making him a significant figure in the music world for generations to come.
Career, Business and Investments
Django Reinhardt's career as a jazz musician began in the 1920s and rapidly progressed as he worked with prominent figures of jazz, including Stephan Grappelli. With the creation of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, Django helped define an entire genre of music that combined jazz with elements of Romani folk music. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, he toured extensively across Europe and the United States, captivating audiences with his extraordinary talent.
Although Django was primarily known for his music, his legacy also includes posthumous album releases, documentaries, and films that preserve his art and influence. His distinct style has inspired countless musicians and led to a resurgence in the popularity of Gypsy jazz.
At the age of 17, Reinhardt married Florine "Bella" Mayer, a girl from the same Romani settlement, according to Romani custom (although not an official marriage under French law). The following year he recorded for the first time.
On these recordings, made in 1928, Reinhardt plays the "banjo" (actually the banjo-guitar) accompanying the accordionists Maurice Alexander, Jean Vaissade and Victor Marceau, and the singer Maurice Chaumel. His name was now drawing international attention, such as from British bandleader Jack Hylton, who came to France just to hear him play.
Hylton offered him a job on the spot, and Reinhardt accepted.
Social Network
While Django Reinhardt's life predated the internet and modern social networks, his music is continuously celebrated today through various online platforms. You can find Django's works featured on streaming services like Spotify and YouTube, as well as dedicated fan sites and communities that discuss his music. Social media platforms are also filled with tributes to his influence, ranging from guitar tutorials to fan pages praising his artistry.
Reinhardt was attracted to music at an early age, first playing the violin. At the age of 12, he received a banjo-guitar as a gift.
He quickly taught himself to play, mimicking the fingerings of musicians he watched, who would have included local virtuoso players of the day such as Jean "Poulette" Castro and Auguste "Gusti" Malha, as well as from his uncle Guiligou, who played violin, banjo and guitar.
Reinhardt was able to make a living playing music by the time he was 15, busking in cafés, often with his brother Joseph. At this time, he had not started playing jazz, although he had probably heard and had been intrigued by the version of jazz played by American expatriate bands like Billy Arnold's.
Education
Django's formal education in music was non-existent, as he was largely self-taught. His family background in music, however, provided him with early exposure to various rhythms and genres. His innovative techniques were developed through experimentation and a deep passion for music rather than conventional training. This self-directed approach contributed significantly to his uniquely recognizable sound.
The popularity of gypsy jazz has generated an increasing number of festivals, such as the Festival Django Reinhardt held every last weekend of June since 1983 in Samois-sur-Seine (France), and since 2017 in nearby Fontainebleau; the various DjangoFests held throughout Europe and the US; and "Django in June", an annual camp for Gypsy jazz musicians
and aficionados held at Smith College in Massachusetts.
