Jazz Musician. Perhaps the most unusual jazz great of all time, he was known for being able to play as many as three horns at one time. Usually each horn played a different part in the same composition, though Kirk would often amaze audiences by playing a jazz tune with one horn and a classical piece with another. Though he lost his sight at the age of two, Kirk would strengthen his mouth as a child by blowing through a water hose, taking up trumpet and bugle by the age of nine, and finally settling on tenor saxophone (as well as reed varients like manzello and stritch) in his teens. Kirk also mastered the art of circular breathing, and could play for several minutes without pausing for breath. Though he spent time with Charles Mingus' Jazz Workshop, Kirk's best known work was as a solo artist. After suffering a stroke in 1975, Kirk would continue to play concerts using just one hand. He died after another stroke in 1977.
Jazz Musician. Perhaps the most unusual jazz great of all time, he was known for being able to play as many as three horns at one time. Usually each horn played a different part in the same composition, though Kirk would often amaze audiences by playing a jazz tune with one horn and a classical piece with another. Though he lost his sight at the age of two, Kirk would strengthen his mouth as a child by blowing through a water hose, taking up trumpet and bugle by the age of nine, and finally settling on tenor saxophone (as well as reed varients like manzello and stritch) in his teens. Kirk also mastered the art of circular breathing, and could play for several minutes without pausing for breath. Though he spent time with Charles Mingus' Jazz Workshop, Kirk's best known work was as a solo artist. After suffering a stroke in 1975, Kirk would continue to play concerts using just one hand. He died after another stroke in 1977.
Bio by: Stuthehistoryguy
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