Can anybody tell me what ever happened to Al Hirt?

saltpoint

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Sat May-21-05 11:27 PM
Original message

Can anybody tell me what ever happened to Al Hirt?

I remember an old account of his playing someplace and being struck by a brick that someone threw toward the stage.

I think his recording of "Strangers in Paradise" is still the best over all other versions.

I like that he gave a lot of money to charities throughout his career.

Is he still alive? If he is, is he ok?

Any info would be appreciated.

thanks.

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stopbush

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Sat May-21-05 11:30 PM
Response to Original message

1. He died in 1999 of a stroke brought on by liver failure.

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saltpoint

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Sat May-21-05 11:32 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Oh my. I feel so out of it.

Thank you, stopbush, for the news, sad though it is.

I will miss Al Hirt.

______

The quotation in your signature line... is it yours? It's wonderful.

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Sgent

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Sun May-22-05 02:50 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. Al Hirt

was one of the great ones, I was very sorry to see him pass. He was not only a great musician, but one of the nicest people you'd ever meet.

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saltpoint

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Sun May-22-05 03:39 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. Hi, Sgent. I had head the same thing -- that Al Hirt was just a --

-- bedrock decent guy.

And he could play that horn, too.

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RebelOne

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Sun May-22-05 05:07 AM
Response to Original message

5. I met him once about 30 years ago. He was playing in a lounge

in Miami Springs, FL. I still have his photo and autograph somewhere.

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saltpoint

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Sun May-22-05 11:32 AM
Response to Reply #5

7. Well, I envy you that encounter. I have a sense of how he might --

-- have been -- friendly and appreciative.

And then he picks up the trumpet and things start to happen.

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Atlas Mugged

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Sun May-22-05 06:44 AM
Response to Original message

6. Dead - as somone already pointed out

His brother was Dr. Andrew Hirt, a college professor, and I was his assistant up until he had to retire and died from diabetes in 1993. An absolutely marvelous person. Lydia, the sister, is still alive and well, I believe. All is all, a really great family.

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saltpoint

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Sun May-22-05 11:33 AM
Response to Reply #6

8. I believe it. My father held Harry James up as the best --

-- trumpet man ever, and he ridiculed my Hirt recordings.

But I stuck to my guns.

I say the man could PLAY.

And I love the way you talk about the brother and sister. Thank you for that.

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