Billy Hart discusses leaving home to pursue a career in music

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Billy Hart discusses some of the artists he has recorded with

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Billy Hart discusses his musical aspirations

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Q: "When did you first go on the road? When did you sort of leave home, leave the nest to become a professional musician out there?"

A: “Well, I didn't really leave. I mean, I played with Shirley, I had contacts with her. Then, I guess, the first gig where I stayed on the road a lot was with the organist, Jimmy Smith. I was with him for about 3-1/2 years. And you know, well I traveled the planet with him and you know, steady. Now, ironically enough, we never came to Toronto, you know, we went everywhere else. But you know Paris or whatever, you know, Berlin and we stayed in California a lot. You know, we just played the general circuit, Texas, Atlanta, you know. And I did that for 3-1/2 years. We didn't come here. You know, he's a genius, but everybody knows who he is. But I guess, that was the first time I did … I did actually, in fact, stay on the road consistently, although I was still living in Washington, D.C.”