Jean-Pierre Rampal, who popularized the flute as a solo instrument and became one of classical music's brightest stars, died of heart failure Saturday in Paris. He was 78. Rampal, one of the most recorded classical musicians in history, was best-known for his love of Baroque music, though he played everything from jazz to Indian music to English folk songs, said Sony Classical, his record label. Rampal's trademark was his gold flute, with which he never parted.