1. Svend Asmussen was a Danish jazz violinist, known as "The Fiddling Viking".
11 Facts About Svend Asmussen
1. 2.
Svend Asmussen played publicly until 2010 when he had a blood clot, his career having spanned eight decades.
3.
Svend Asmussen started working professionally as a violinist, vibraphonist, and singer at age 17, leaving his formal training behind for good.
4.
Svend Asmussen later was greatly influenced by Stuff Smith, whom he met in Denmark.
5.
Svend Asmussen worked with Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, and Duke Ellington.
6.
Svend Asmussen was invited by Ellington to play on his Jazz Violin Session recording in 1963 with Stephane Grappelli and Ray Nance.
7.
In 1966, Svend Asmussen appeared alongside Grappelli, Stuff Smith, and Jean-Luc Ponty in a jazz Violin Summit in Switzerland that was issued as a live recording.
8.
Svend Asmussen made an appearance at the 1967 Monterey Jazz Festival, which included a celebrated violin summit with him, Ray Nance and Jean-Luc Ponty.
9.
Svend Asmussen was still active playing violin at the age of 94.
10.
Svend Asmussen died peacefully in his sleep on 7 February 2017, three weeks before his 101st birthday.
11.
Svend Asmussen's son, Claus Svend Asmussen, is a guitar player in Denmark and a former member of the band Shu-Bi-Dua.