The trumpet world lost a great trumpeter, musician, and dedicated supporter of the arts on September 18, 2003. Alan "Al" Hoel lived a trumpet player's dream-life with an incredibly diverse performing career.

Al served in the 5th Army Band (with fellow bandsman, Bill Evans), was an instructor of Trumpet at the University of Miami (Florida) for nine years. He directed the UM performance group, The Singing Hurricanes, was Principal Trumpet of the Miami Philharmonic under Fabian Sevitzky, and was Lead Trumpet with the Jackie Gleason Show, Miami Beach, for six years.

Al's group, "The Alan Hoel Singers", appeared on Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants for seven years and were backup singers for many recordings and other television shows. Al retired to Bryson City, North Carolina in 1997.