Michel Petrucciani

French jazz pianist.

Born: 28 December 1962 in Orange, France.
Died: 6 January 1999 in New York City, New York, USA (aged 36).

Petrucciani is from an Italo-French family (his grandfather was from Naples, Italy), and was known as one of the best jazz pianists of his time. He achieved this despite having the genetic disease OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta, aka Brittle Bone Disease), a condition that causes brittle bones and, in his case, short stature and near constant pain in his arms.

In 1994, he was granted the Order of the Légion d'honneur in Paris, for his contribution to jazz music. Petrucciani died from a pulmonary infection a week after his 36th birthday, and was interred in Le Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris – one tomb away from Frédéric Chopin.

Jazz musicians Alessandro Collina, Rodolfo Cervetto, Marc Peillon, and Fabrizio Bosso collaborated on an album dedicated to mostly his compositions, "Michel On Air" (2014).

Brother to Louis Petrucciani (bassist) and Philippe Petrucciani (guitarist). Son of Antoine Petrucciani (guitarist).