Didier Lockwood

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Personal

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Family

French jazz musician, born into a talented family. His father taught violin at university, while his mother painted and his brother played piano. Young Didier entered the Conservatory at age 6 to follow in his father's footsteps. At age 13 he played with the Calais Municpal Theatre's orchestra. In 1973 he joined the jazz rock band called Magma and toured with the group for four years. He caught the attention of jazz violinist Stephane Grappeli who became a mentor and a touring partner. He was subsquently noticed by Dave Brubeck who engineered an invitation for Lockwood to play at Carnegie Hall. Since his triumphal performance at New York's prestigious venue, he made an international name for himself. In 1996 he wrote a concerto in three movements that he performed the following year. He continued his work as a jazz violinist, integrating his roots in classical music. Lockwood was married to the opera singer Caroline Casadesus, granddaughter of Gisèle Casadesus, with whom he had a daughter. In 2015, he married Patricia Petibon. Didier Lockwood died suddenly on 18 February 2018, aged 62, from a heart attack in Paris. Link to Wikipedia biography