Hey! Mister Horn Blower
Memoirs of a Life in Music and Numismatics

Gene Hessler has written a book about his long career in jazz and on Broadway called Hey! Mr. Hornblower.

“Not only was Gene one of the best trombone players to work with my band, he was my only singing and dancing trombone star. If they were still with us I know that Woody Herman, Billy May, Buddy Rich and Richard Maltby would say how fortunate they were to have Gene in their bands.” Elliot Lawrence, band leader, arranger, composer and musical director for the Tony Awards and numerous other television shows.

“In 1950 Patti Page and I held hands four times each day at the Paramount Theater in New York City.” — Gene Hessler (See page 91)

“As a bass trombonist, arranger and composer I had the pleasure and good fortune to work with Gene, whose musicianship and trombone-playing I respect, and who remains one of my good friends.” Dick Lieb, composer and arranger for Skitch Henderson,
Doc Severinsen, and ABC documentaries.

“The foremost expert lives here in Cincinnati. Gene Hessler is generally regarded as the top authority on U.S. currency. [School] kids who have no interest in history or geography are fascinated by paper money [shown to them by Gene]. They ask [Gene] questions and sometimes even puzzle out foreign words by looking at the money. They learn without knowing that’s what they are doing. Sounds very sneaky to me.”
— Laura Pulfer author and columnist for the Cincinnati Enquirer

“It soon becomes evident that Hessler gives a much wider-coverage of collectible paper money in his Comprehensive Catalog of U.S. Paper Money.” — New York Times

“U.S. Essay, Proof and Specimen Notes is “Meticulously researched and written by the
premier researcher of U.S. paper money of our generation.” — Fred Reed III, Editor
of PAPER MONEY

Listen to an Interview with the author - 91.7 WVXU Cincinnati

To purchase:

Send a check for $25 to

Cincinnati Musicians Association
2145 Central Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45214