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Events on Saturday 16 May 1953 1
1910 – 1953Django Reinhardt (1910-1953)Died 16 May 1953, aged 43Django Reinhardt was a Belgian-born Romani guitarist who pioneered jazz manouche, developing a virtuosic playing style despite the loss of use of two fingers in a fire. He co-founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France, influencing generations of jazz and rock guitarists. He is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of the twentieth century.