Lawrence Welk Show
 
Al Hirt, Trumpet (1957-1959)
Lawrence Welk Trumpeter Recorded "Green Lantern" Theme Song

Al HirtAl Hirt ("Jumbo") is better known for his jazz nightclub in New Orleans than he is for his performances on the Lawrence Welk Show. However, it was on the Welk Show where he got his start in show business in 1957. 

Early Career
Hirt grew up in New Orleans and attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music from 1940 to 1943. He then served in the Army until after World War II. After the war, Hirt returned to New Orleans and played with Pete Fountain, another Lawrence Welk alumni. Fountain and Hirt both joined the Lawrence Welk Show in 1957 and remained until 1959. 

Life After Welk
After Hirt left in 1959, he moved back to New Orleans and signed a contract with RCA records. He eventually recorded a whopping 55 records over his entire career. In 1965, he won a Grammy for his hit song, "Java" and later won acclaim for his theme song for the "Green Lantern." Other hits he recorded include "Greatest Horn", "He's the King", "Bourbon Street", and "Cotton Candy."

Hirt died in 1999 of liver failure.