Al Hirt

Al Hirt (November 7, 1922 - April 27, 1999) was a popular trumpeter and bandleader.

Related Topics:
November 7 - 1922 - April 27 - 1999 - Trumpeter - Bandleader

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Alois Maxwell Hirt, known as "Al" or "Jumbo", was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a child he played in the Junior Police Band with the children of Alcide Nunez. By the age of 16 Hirt was playing professionally, often with his friend Pete Fountain.

Related Topics:
New Orleans, Louisiana - Alcide Nunez - Pete Fountain

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In 1940 Hirt went to Cincinnati, Ohio to study at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with Dr. Frank Simon (a former soloist with the John Philip Sousa Orchestra). After a stint as a bugler in the United States Army during World War II, Hirt performed with various Swing big bands, including those of Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Ina Rae Hutton. In 1950 he became first trumpet and soloist with Horace Heidt's Orchestra.

Related Topics:
1940 - Cincinnati, Ohio - Cincinnati Conservatory of Music - John Philip Sousa - Bugler - United States Army - World War II - Swing - Big band - Tommy Dorsey - Jimmy Dorsey - Benny Goodman - Ina Rae Hutton - 1950 - Horace Heidt

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After this Hirt returned to New Orleans, working with various Dixieland bands and leading his own bands. Despite Hirt's statement years later "I'm not a jazz trumpet and never was a jazz trumpet" he made a few recordings where he demonstrated ability to play in that style during the 1950s, notably with bandleader Monk Hazel and a few other recordings on the local Southland Records label. Hirt's virtuoso dexterity and fine tone on his instrument soon attracted the attention of national labels. Hirt had 22 different record albums on the Billboard Pop charts in the 1950s and 1960s. The albums Honey In The Horn and Cotton Candy were both in the top 10 best sellers for 1964, the same year Hirt scored a top hit single with his cover of Allen Toussaint's tune Java.

Related Topics:
Dixieland - Jazz - 1950s - Monk Hazel - Southland Records - 1960s - 1964 - Allen Toussaint

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Hirt's recording of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee was used as the theme song for the 1960s television series The Green Hornet, and again gained public attention in 2003 when it was used in the film Kill Bill.

Related Topics:
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Flight of the Bumblebee - 1960s - Television series - The Green Hornet - 2003 - Kill Bill

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Hirt opened up a club on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter in 1962, which he ran until 1983.

Related Topics:
French Quarter - 1962 - 1983

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In 1987 Hirt played a solo rendition of Ave Maria for Pope John Paul II's visit to New Orleans.

Related Topics:
1987 - Pope John Paul II

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Hirt died in New Orleans of liver failure. His remains were buried in Metairie Cemetery.

Related Topics:
Liver - Metairie Cemetery

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