Giuseppe Venuti

Giuseppe Venuti (September 16, 1903 – August 14, 1978), better known as Joe Venuti, was an Italian-American jazz musician and pioneer jazz violinist. Joe Venuti claimed to have been born aboard a ship as his parents emigrated from Italy, though many believe he was born in Philadelphia. Later in life, he said he was born in Italy in 1896 and that he came to the U.S. in 1906. Considered the father of jazz violin, he pioneered the use of string instruments in jazz along with the guitarist Eddie Lang, a childhood friend of his. Through the 1920s and early 1930s, Venuti and Lang made many recordings, as leader and as featured soloists. He and Lang became so well known for their 'hot' violin and guitar solos that on many commercial dance...