Dave Apollon was one of the greatest mandolinists of the 20th Century. He was a Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine who was a master of classical, Hungarian, Romanian, Klezmer, Latin, and jazz styles.

Born in Kiev, Dave Apollon was known during his time as the “world’s greatest mandolin virtuoso.” He began playing the mandolin at a young age and apparently taught himself. When he was 13 he met a renowned italian mandolinist who was touring Russia, and Dave managed to persuade the man to help him. He taught Dave how to hold the pick and a few other “tricks” that would later serve him well. In 1919, Dave Apollon decided to escape the hardships of the Russian Revolution and made his way to America. Dave performed in vaudeville, and in 1926 he met a group of filipino string players who had just lost their job in another show. He immediately hired them to be his “orchestra” and began working up the routines and musical numbers that would be part of his show. In 1930, Dave embarked on a motion picture career, filming the first of six musical shorts. In 1937, he was featured in Universal’s “Merry Go ‘Round of 1938”, his only full-length American film. He was also a popular night club performer throughout the ’40s and ’50s. Dave Apollon was the first “new world” mandolinist. He was the first to technically master the instrument and at the same time adapt this technique to an extremely wide variety of music.

From the collection of Scot Wise.

For more Dave Apollon check out his CD The Man with Mandolin.

The video archive is dedicated to Mary Honcoop. She generously shared her large collection of Gypsy videos with nearly anyone who asked. The video archive aims to continue her generosity now that she is gone.

The Video Archive is devoted surviving video of Django Reinhardt and other masters of the Gypsy jazz genre. If you enjoy these videos consider making a donation.

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Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang set a precident for string jazz that was followed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. This clip was from their days with Paul Whiteman. Venuti’s violin technique is explained in his books Never Before…Never Again, Violin Rhythm and 50 Hot Breaks for Violin. Eddie Lang explains his astoudning guitar technique in his books Modern Advanced Guitar Method and Fingerboard Harmony for Guitar.

For more Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti, see their CDs The Quintessential Eddie Lang, A Handful of Riffs, Wild Cats, 1926-1928, 1928-1930, 1933, and Pretty Trix.

For more Venuti footage see the DVD: Jeremy Cohen & Friends Celebrate Joe Venuti: 100 Years.

Joe Venuti can also be heard on these CDs: Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims, Joe Venuti and Dave McKenna – Alone at the Palace, Joe Venuti & Earl Hines – Hot Sonatas, Joe Venuti & Chet Baker – Capolinea LP, Joe Venuti & Marian McPartland – The Maestro and Friend LP.

From the collection of Ted Gottsegen.

The video archive is dedicated to Mary Honcoop. She generously shared her large collection of Gypsy videos with nearly anyone who asked. The video archive aims to continue her generosity now that she is gone.

Dave Apollon was one of the greatest mandolinists of the 20th Century. He was a Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine who was a master of classical, Hungarian, Romanian, Klezmer, Latin, and jazz styles.

From the collection of Scot Wise.

Born in Kiev, Dave Apollon was known during his time as the “world’s greatest mandolin virtuoso.” He began playing the mandolin at a young age and apparently taught himself. When he was 13 he met a renowned italian mandolinist who was touring Russia, and Dave managed to persuade the man to help him. He taught Dave how to hold the pick and a few other “tricks” that would later serve him well. In 1919, Dave Apollon decided to escape the hardships of the Russian Revolution and made his way to America. Dave performed in vaudeville, and in 1926 he met a group of filipino string players who had just lost their job in another show. He immediately hired them to be his “orchestra” and began working up the routines and musical numbers that would be part of his show. In 1930, Dave embarked on a motion picture career, filming the first of six musical shorts. In 1937, he was featured in Universal’s “Merry Go ‘Round of 1938”, his only full-length American film. He was also a popular night club performer throughout the ’40s and ’50s. Dave Apollon was the first “new world” mandolinist. He was the first to technically master the instrument and at the same time adapt this technique to an extremely wide variety of music.

For more Dave Apollon check out his CD The Man with Mandolin.

The video archive is dedicated to Mary Honcoop. She generously shared her large collection of Gypsy videos with nearly anyone who asked. The video archive aims to continue her generosity now that she is gone.

The Video Archive is devoted surviving video of Django Reinhardt and other masters of the Gypsy jazz genre. If you enjoy these videos consider making a donation.

To view this video you need Real Player software. Download for free here: Real Player

Dave Apollon was one of the greatest mandolinists of the 20th Century. He was a Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine who was a master of classical, Hungarian, Romanian, Klezmer, Latin, and jazz styles.

Born in Kiev, Dave Apollon was known during his time as the “world’s greatest mandolin virtuoso.” He began playing the mandolin at a young age and apparently taught himself. When he was 13 he met a renowned italian mandolinist who was touring Russia, and Dave managed to persuade the man to help him. He taught Dave how to hold the pick and a few other “tricks” that would later serve him well. In 1919, Dave Apollon decided to escape the hardships of the Russian Revolution and made his way to America. Dave performed in vaudeville, and in 1926 he met a group of filipino string players who had just lost their job in another show. He immediately hired them to be his “orchestra” and began working up the routines and musical numbers that would be part of his show. In 1930, Dave embarked on a motion picture career, filming the first of six musical shorts. In 1937, he was featured in Universal’s “Merry Go ‘Round of 1938”, his only full-length American film. He was also a popular night club performer throughout the ’40s and ’50s. Dave Apollon was the first “new world” mandolinist. He was the first to technically master the instrument and at the same time adapt this technique to an extremely wide variety of music.

From the collection of Scot Wise.

For more Dave Apollon check out his CD The Man with Mandolin.

The video archive is dedicated to Mary Honcoop. She generously shared her large collection of Gypsy videos with nearly anyone who asked. The video archive aims to continue her generosity now that she is gone.

The Video Archive is devoted surviving video of Django Reinhardt and other masters of the Gypsy jazz genre. If you enjoy these videos consider making a donation.

To view this video you need Real Player software. Download for free here: Real Player

This video was probably shot sometime during the mid 1990s. Fapy is playing great and is clearly at the height of his ability.

Thanks Dennis! For more Fapy Lafertin check out his CDs Fleur Dennui ,Fine and Dandy, Django! A Tribute to Django Reinhardt, Live at the AB, and Hungaria.

Fapy also appears on the Django Legacy DVD.

The video archive is dedicated to Mary Honcoop. She generously shared her large collection of Gypsy videos with nearly anyone who asked. The video archive aims to continue her generosity now that she is gone.

The Video Archive is devoted surviving video of Django Reinhardt and other masters of the Gypsy jazz genre. If you enjoy these videos consider making a donation.

To view this video you need Real Player software. Download for free here: Real Player