12 Facts About Emmett Hardy

Emmett Louis Hardy was an American jazz cornet player during the early 1900s.

Emmett Hardy was a child prodigy, described as already playing marvelously in his early teens.

Some New Orleans musicians remembered as a musical highlight of their lives, a 1919 cutting contest where, after long and intense struggle, Emmett Hardy succeeded in outplaying Louis Armstrong.

In Emmett Hardy's early teens, he was a member of Papa Jack Laine's band, then worked in the Carlisle Evans Band and Norman Brownlee's Orchestra of New Orleans.

Emmett Hardy belonged to a small band that supported singer Bee Palmer.

Emmett Hardy did not appear on any of the Rhythm Kings recording sessions, never making any commercial recordings before his early death.

Emmett Hardy's playing is described as being more lyrical than many of his New Orleans contemporaries, but with a driving rhythm.

Emmett Hardy's tone was pure and wonderful and it sorta rolled forth, except with a drive like I've never heard anyone else get.

Emmett Hardy was an important influence on Bix Beiderbecke, and Monk Hazel pointed out that Beiderbecke on the Wolverines records sounded very much like Emmett Hardy.

Emmett Hardy did metal work, made his own mouthpieces for his horn, and modified his cornet to add an additional spit-valve.

At least one cylinder survived to the start of the 1950s; the relative who heard it then said Emmett Hardy's playing reminded him of Sharkey Bonano.

Emmett Hardy died of tuberculosis in New Orleans, just four days after his 22nd birthday, and was buried in Gretna, Louisiana.