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