Jean-Pierre Rampal was born on January 7, 1922, in Marseille, France, to Joseph Rampal, a professor of flute, and Andree (Roggero) Rampal. Despite his musical lineage, his parents initially discouraged him from pursuing a career in music, favoring a more stable profession. Rampal excelled academically and was encouraged by his mother to become a doctor. He attended the University of Marseille's medical school for three years but continued to cultivate his passion for the flute, winning first prize at the Marseille Conservatory in 1937.

During World War II, the German occupation of France drastically altered Rampal's path. Facing conscription into the German military, he joined a German military orchestra, which allowed him to continue playing music. He later auditioned for the Paris Conservatory and, with his family's help, evaded deportation to Germany by hiding in Marseille before enrolling in the Conservatory.

Rampal's musical career flourished post-war. He played with the Vichy Opera orchestra from 1947 to 1951 and served as the principal flutist of the Paris Opera from 1955 to 1962. He co-founded the French Wind Quintet and the Paris Baroque Ensemble, and his international career took off with a debut at the Library of Congress in 1958 and a Carnegie Hall performance in 1959. He was instrumental in establishing the flute as a solo concert instrument, performing around 120 concerts annually across four continents. His extensive discography, featuring over 300 recordings, includes collaborations with renowned artists like Itzhak Perlman and Mstislav Rostropovich.

Rampal was also a dedicated educator, appointed as a professor at the Paris Conservatory in 1968. He continued to contribute to the music world through conducting and editing Baroque music. His autobiography, "Music, My Love," published in 1989, reflects on his career, which he described as a blend of chance and destiny. Jean-Pierre Rampal passed away on May 20, 2000, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential flutists of the 20th century.