Django Reinhardt – private Life (2/6)

Django Reinhardt – private Life (2/6)

After “Negros” (Django´s mother) has been left alone around 1912 by her husband Jean-Eugéne, she decides to leave Liberchies in Belgium with her sons “Django” and “Nin-Nin” to make her way to Paris with their caravan.

Finally they stop in an area of parisian subburbs called “La Zone” (image above, “La Zone”, around 1922″).

Django lifes his first young years in that area, filled up with french Manouches (Gypsies) and many more immigrated nationalities of all european countries that lived there.
He grows up there, wondering around with other gypsy-kids and soon he starts to play Banjo (see image left below).

Django is already interested in the guitar at that time. But at first he learns to play the Banjo secretly, copying music from his cousins or friends, until one day he gets recognized by one of his uncles.
This uncle is excited to hear young Django´s already very creative play, so much that Django is allowed to accompanying him with his band for the first gigs.

In 1924 at the age of 14, his mother Negros buys Django his first guitar as a present.
Very soon after that Django gets recognized amongst the parisian musicians, until in the end of 1925 Django is introduced to the famous accordeonist Guerino, beeing asked by him to play for his own orchestra at the “Bal des Musettes” in Paris (see also Django – the Guitar-Maestro).

In 1926, about 15-16 years old, Django meets a beautiful black-haired Manouche-girl namend Sophie Irma Ziegler, also called “Naguine” (image left).
Both meet like “love at first sight” and spent their days and nights together from that day on. Although Naguine will have to wait for some time on her chance, as she will become Django Reinhardt´s second wife just later on. But first in 1927 the dream of the young love vanishes quickliy again.

Already then Django is a kind of fickle unsteady charakter who loves to play Billiard and Cards, smokes and drinks. Also during the later years he often rather remains staying in a bistro, at a night club playing an exciting Billiard match or going fishing, as instead to be at his appointments or gigs in time or even showing up at all…

Read more -> Django Reinhardt – Private Life (3/6)