Django Reinhardt was born into a Belgian Romani family in 1910. He grew up in Romani camps around Paris and learned a wide range of stringed instruments, eventually settling on the banjo-guitar as his preferred instrument. He practiced by mimicking older musicians, never learning to read music. 

His trajectory as a musician was almost derailed when he spent a year and a half in the hospital recovering from extensive burns after an accident. His injuries led to the loss of use of his left ring and pinky finger, both used extensively when playing guitar. He took the challenge of learning to play again and was able to use just his left index and middle finger to form chords and regain his mastery.

When Reinhardt found jazz he went on to become part of the most accomplished European jazz groups of the thirties. During World War II he was able to avoid the Romani Holocaust but had to also change his musical direction since the offical Nazi stance prohibited jazz.

After the war he toured the US with Duke Ellington before returning to Paris, where he died at the age of 43.Reinhardt is credited with the creation of gypsy jazz. Two all-time great guitarists, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, both played guitar after losing fingers in accidents and were inspired by Reinhardt. Jimi Hendrix’s album Band Of Gypsys is also inspired by Reinhardt.

If you're interested in learning to play gypsy jazz on the guitar, check out this comprehensive guide.