It’s hard to believe that in more than 15 years of the Secret History of Chicago Music—at least 350 installments—I haven’t covered a jazz violinist. Admittedly, the violin isn’t strongly associated with jazz, and despite my music-nerd credentials I can only name a few folks who’ve played it in that context. But if you’re into jazz fiddling, Johnny Frigo is already no secret to you. He was a true Renaissance man: a violinist, bassist, singer, songwriter, visual artist, and published poet.

Frigo was born to an Italian immigrant family in the Roseland neighborhood on the south side of Chicago on December 27, 1916. His household was poor, and as a child Frigo had to collect rags and scrap metal to help his parents afford the 25 cents per week it cost for his violin lessons.