Legendary Violinist Had Family Ties To Queens

Pictured on page 44 are: Dr. Anthony Feinstein, author of Michael Rabin: America’s Virtuoso Violinist and, Bertine Lafayette and Assemblymember Ivan Lafayette at book signing. A gathering at the Coliseum Book Store on 42nd street in Manhattan on Wednesday October 19 celebrated the life of legendary violinist Michael Rabin and the release of the first ever authorized book about his life, Michael Rabin: America’s Virtuoso Violinist . Rabin, who is considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century, is the brother of Bertine Lafayette, wife of Assemblymember Ivan Lafayette who represents the 34th Assembly District in Jackson Heights.

Photos Diane Sanders Dr. Anthony Feinstein, author of the biography, read some of the book’s chapter 7, titled “Hollywood” to the attendees, then spent quite some time acknowledging the impact Rabin has had on the world. “Michael was a very remarkable, extraordinary musician,” he said. Rabin has been ranked with violin legends such as Isaac Stern and Jascha Heifetz, recording with Columbia Records when he was just 15 years old and performing in Carnegie Hall and for audiences worldwide. His accidental death at the young age of 35 was a tragedy, yet Feinstein declared, “There is so much to celebrate as well.”

The event featured many longtime fans of Rabin’s music as well as those close to him, including his sister, Bertine, who played a significant role in the making of the book, of which she proudly said, “Holding the book in my hands when he presented it to me was like holding a living being.” Lafayette, also present at the event spoke a bit about his personal experiences with Rabin. “In my first run for public office, Michael did a concert for me in Queens to help raise money,” he said. He went on to talk about how Queens County in particular has many classical music listeners that have felt the loss of the musical prodigy. Lafayette has been serving in the Assembly since 1977 and is currently chairman of the Auto Insurance Subcommittee.

Feinstein, who is the author of three other books and a psychiatry professor at the University of Toronto, declared it was his love of music that drove him to research the real life of Michael Rabin. When asked what valuable, interesting information on the violinist’s life he most wants known, Feinstein said, “Well, the big thing about Michael really is his lost talent. He was an incredible violinist. He’d be 69 years of age today. We have missed out on 33 years of potentially wonderful music making.” The book clarifies Rabin’s accidental death that has not been well known all this time and documents the successes and guiding forces of his life. The book is best summed up by Lafayette, who said, “It is sort of a way to gain closure to his untimely death.” Michael Rabin: A Virtuoso Violinist is available at Coliseum Books, Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.