Fapy Lafertin

b. 20 March 1950, Kortrijk, Belgium. Born into the Manouche gypsy community, Lafertin took an interest in music from a very early age. He played several instruments before choosing the guitar as his principal means of expression. Not surprisingly given their shared background, the music of another Manouche gypsy, Django Reinhardt, beckoned. Nevertheless, Lafertin played other forms before plunging into the Quintet Du Hot Club Du France repertoire, which he did when he joined the orchestra of violinist Piotto Lindberger. In the 70s and early 80s an offshoot of this band was for...