Alois Maxwell Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was a popular American trumpeter and bandleader. Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A bandleader is the leader of a band of Musicians The term is most commonly though not exclusively used with a group that plays Popular music as

Statue of Al Hirt in the French Quarter. The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in the city of New Orleans Louisiana.

Hirt was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of a police officer, and was known as "Al" or "Jumbo. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana " At the age of six, he was given his first trumpet, which had been purchased at a local pawnshop. He would play in the Junior Police Band with the children of Alcide Nunez, and by the age of 16, Hirt was playing professionally, often with his friend Pete Fountain. Alcide Patrick Nunez ( March 17, 1884 &ndash September 2, 1934) was an early United States Jazz Clarinetist. Pierre Dewey LaFontaine Jr (born July 3, 1930) is a New Orleans Clarinetist. During this time, he was hired to play at the local horse racing track, beginning a six-decade connection to the sport.

In 1940 Hirt went to Cincinnati, Ohio to study at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with Dr. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was a Conservatory, part of a girls' Finishing school, founded in 1867 in Cincinnati Ohio. Frank Simon (a former soloist with the John Philip Sousa Orchestra). John Philip Sousa ( November 6, 1854 &ndash March 6, 1932) was an American Composer and conductor of the late 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 Ray Hutton. "Bugler" redirects here For the tobacco brand see Bugler (tobacco. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United A big band is a type of Musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late Tommy Dorsey ( November 19 1905 &ndash November 26 1956) was an American Jazz Trombonist, Trumpeter James "Jimmy" Dorsey ( February 29, 1904 &ndash June 12, 1957) was a prominent American Jazz Clarinetist Ina Ray Hutton ( March 13 1916 &ndash February 19 1984) was an American female leader during the Big band era and half-sister In 1950 he became first trumpet and soloist with Horace Heidt's Orchestra. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Horace Heidt ( May 21, 1901 - December 1, 1986) was an American pianist Big band leader and radio-TV personality

Hirt then returned to New Orleans, working with various Dixieland groups and leading his own bands. Dixieland or Dixie is a name for the southeastern portion of the USA; see Southern United States, Dixie. 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. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive Monk Hazel (aka Arthur Hazel August 15 1903, Harvey Louisiana - March 05 1968, New Orleans. Southland Records is a New Orleans Louisiana

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 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 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, and later won a Grammy award for the same recording. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Allen Toussaint, ˈtuːseɪnt (born January 14 1938 is an American Musician, Songwriter and Record producer. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

Hirt's top 40 charted hit single of Sugar Lips in 1964 would be later used as the theme song for the NBC daytime game show Eye Guess, hosted by Bill Cullen and originally airing during the mid-to-late 1960s. Eye Guess is a television game show that ran from January 3, 1966 to September 26, 1969 on NBC. William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen ( February 18, 1920 – July 7, 1990) was an American Radio and Television Hirt was chosen to record the frenetic theme for the 1960s TV show "The Green Hornet", by famed arranger and composer Billy May. The Green Hornet (also referred to as simply Green Hornet) is a masked fictional Crime fighter Thematically reminiscent of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee, it showcased Hirt's technical prowess. Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov ( Николай Андреевич Римский-Корсаков, Nikolaj Andreevič Rimskij-Korsakov) also Nikolay "Flight of the Bumblebee" is a famous Orchestral Interlude written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his Opera The Tale of Tsar The recording again gained public attention in 2003 when it was used in the film Kill Bill. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Kill Bill is the fourth film by Writer - director Quentin Tarantino.

Planting deep roots in his community, Hirt opened up a club on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter in 1962, which he ran until 1983. Bourbon Street (Rue Bourbon is a famous and historic street that runs the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans Louisiana. The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in the city of New Orleans Louisiana. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) He also became a minority owner in the NFL expansion New Orleans Saints in 1967. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans Louisiana. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.

On February 8, 1970, while performing in a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Hirt was injured while riding on a float. Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. " Mardi Gras " ( French for Fat Tuesday) is the day before Ash Wednesday. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana It is popularly believed that he was struck in the mouth by a thrown piece of concrete or brick. Documentation of factual details regarding the incident are vague. Hirt underwent surgery and had to wait a while and then practice slowly to make a return to the club scene.

In 1987 Hirt played a solo rendition of Ave Maria for Pope John Paul II's visit to New Orleans, a performance Hirt considered one of his most important. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Pope

In 1999, Hirt died in New Orleans of liver failure after spending the previous year in a wheelchair due to edema in his leg. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals Oedema (or Edema in American English formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is the increase of Interstitial fluid in any organ &mdash swelling Despite the bout with edema, Hirt continued to play in local clubs including Chris Owens Club. His remains were buried in Metairie Cemetery. Metairie Cemetery is a Cemetery in New Orleans Louisiana, United States.

Other nicknames include "Al (He's the King!) Hirt", "Sugar Lips" (after one of his most popular pieces) and "The Round Mound of Sound".

Al Hirt had 8 children, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. In 1990, Al married Beverly Estabrook Essel, a friend of 40 years. According to one trivia source, Hirt had the names of his children engraved on his trumpet.