Al Hirt

Al Hirt, a virtuoso trumpeter, was often considered overqualified for the Dixieland and pop music he performed. He studied classical trumpet at the Cincinnati Conservatory from 1940 to 1943 and was influenced by Harry James. Hirt freelanced with swing bands, including those of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, before returning to New Orleans in the late '40s to join the Dixieland movement. From 1955, he occasionally teamed up with clarinetist Pete Fountain and gained fame by the decade's end. Known for his technical prowess and tendency to play many notes, Hirt had instrumental pop hits in the 1960s and recorded swing and country music, though he primarily performed Dixieland live. His early Audiofidelity recordings and collaborations with Fountain are highlights of his career. Hirt passed away on April 27, 1999, in New Orleans.