The Left-Handed Guitar Players That Changed Music By John Engel
CHALLAIN FERRET


guitar
Plays Guitar Left Handed with default stringing.


Challain Ferret was first cousin to the better-known Ferret brothers, Pierre ‘Baro,’ Etienne ‘Sarane’ and Jean ‘Matelo.’ Ferret was born in a little town near Rouen in the north of France, and the extended family grew up together, as was customary in gypsy families. The eldest of his cousins, Baro Ferret, who was six years his elder, began to teach young Challain to play guitar when he was in his early teens.

As did his cousins, Challain Ferret played and recorded with the great Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. He led his own big band in the escapist swing days of the war and after, and backed a number of popular variety singers and musette accordionists at different times.  But most of Challain’s career was built on playing gypsy music at an endless string of cabaret and club engagements and posh parties. As such, he was a sought-after entertainer to a rarefied audience, which counted royals and movie stars, but also kept his name virtually unknown both to the general public and to jazz purists.

© LFV / John Engel all rights reserved.

Read about Ferret's colorful life in John Engel's Uncommon Sound book.