Al Hirt
FameRank: 5

"Al Hirt" was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java (composition)/Java" and the accompanying album Honey in the Horn (1963), and for the theme song to The Green Hornet (TV series)/The Green Hornet. His nicknames included "Jumbo" and "The Round Mound of Sound". Hirt was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in November 2009.

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Rich could play way better than Krupa.

295

[He could belt out traditional blues and jazz with the best of them, but - to the dismay of jazz purists - he would also record pop tunes that sold millions of albums.] I'm a pop commercial musician, and I've got a successful format, ... If you have the ability to perform your musical idea, you become a good jazz player.

231

When Buddy played, he played all out, all the time. It was a wonder he didn't keel over and die before he did.

170

Old Sharkey had a fat sound, man. He could blow like wild fire and when he played, I am telling you, the whole place would stop dead-away and listen!

137

The New Orleans I knew is gone, ... It's never going to come back. I'm just grateful I had my years down there to see and be a part of it. I am so glad Al isn't here to see what has happened to his city.

130

I've been glued to the TV. I am absolutely devastated.

114

I don't know, ... I do not know.

110

I always smoked cigars. I've smoked cigars with everybody in show business.

94