René Le Roy

René Le Roy was a noted French flute soloist and member of the Quintette à vent française.  Because he was the first flutist to record Density 21.5 in 1950, it is sometimes claimed that Varèse wrote the piece for him.  Actually, Varèse wrote it for flutist Georges Barrère and his platinum flute.  [21.5 is the density of platinum.] 

The photograph, above, is inscribed (underneath the picture) to Emma Boynet, my mother's piano teacher and Le Roy's occasional accompanist.