Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, was born on Christmas Day, 1745, to a French planter and a Senegalese enslaved woman in Guadeloupe. He quickly ascended through French society, becoming a celebrated fencing master and a leading figure in Parisian musical circles, proving that talent truly knows no bounds, especially when it's packaged with aristocratic connections.

Often dubbed 'the Black Mozart', Saint-Georges's compositions were highly regarded, influencing many of his contemporaries (even Mozart himself, some argue, with Saint-Georges beating him to the punch on the symphony concertante). He also served as a colonel during the French Revolution, leading a legion of 1,000 black soldiers.

While his musical genius and societal impact are undeniable, there's no indication that the Chevalier ever moonlighted as a bar mitzvah DJ or had a penchant for gefilte fish. His heritage is firmly rooted in the Caribbean and France, with no known detours to the land of milk and honey.

So, while his achievements certainly bring nachas to anyone who appreciates an underdog story, we can comfortably conclude he wasn't spending his Sundays in shul.