Born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 7, 1922,
Alois Maxwell Hirt, known as Al Hirt began playing a trumpet at
the age of six and was playing professionally at 16 years of age,
often with his friend Pete Fountain.
In 1940 Hirt went to study at the Cincinnati Conservatory
of Music in Ohio and later would serve as a bugler in the
United States Army during World War II before performing
with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Ray McKinley, Benny Goodman
and a soloist with the Horace Heidt Orchestra. Upon returning
to his beloved New Orleans he worked with various Dixieland
groups before starting his own band.
Soon Hirt's talent attracted national labels where in time
he would have dozens of record albums on the Hit Parade
during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Sparked by his chart topping single
“Java” in 1964, the albums “Honey In The Horn” and “Cotton Candy”
were both top 10 best sellers.
At 76 years of age, Al Hirt died in New Orleans of liver failure
on April 22, 1999.
 
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