A child prodigy violinist, Menuhin first heard classical music as a toddler when his parents took him to concerts to avoid paying for a baby sitter. He so wanted a violin that his parents bought him a toy; when he heard the awful sound, he threw it down, sobbing. They got him a real one to replace it, and he started lessons at age 4.
The New York-born Menuhin gave his premiere performance at age 7 with the San Francisco Symphony. He gave more than 500 concerts for Allied forces during World War II, played for heads of state, and was given an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth. Menuhin died in Berlin March 12 from heart failure at age 82.