Even if you never heard his name, if you heard a trumpet play since about 1965, you heard the huge influence of French trumpeter Maurice Andre.
Born into a miner's family in the French Pyrenees, he took up trumpet at age 12, after having been taught solfege (the sophisticated French ear-training system based upon do-re-mi) for two years.
The link above details his career, contains recorded samples, and excerpts of interviews.
Andre showed us with his life what might be possible for those who follow their calling, however improbable. Who raises a child with the idea that he (or she) will travel the world playing a tiny piccolo trumpet to bring joy to millions? Moms and Dads, your kid's rather improbable dream may well be worth nurturing. Read about his life, and keep him in mind as you parent.
He was a dedicated teacher and mentor. His recordings defined the sound and technique of the trumpet for his generation and well beyond.
He didn't win one election, stage one coup, crash a bank or brokerage, start or end a war. He played the trumpet, taught the trumpet, and moved the world in the right direction.
What would happen if we produced more people like Maurice Andre and fewer people like, say, Vladimir Putin, or Assad, or EuroCrats, or banksters like Corzine? What if?
R.I.P. Maurice Andre. May your tribe increase.
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