Reward Offered For Trumpet

The family of the late Travis “Trumpet Black” Hill, 28, a New Orleans musician who died in May, is offering a $3,500 reward for the return of the jazzman’s trumpet that was stolen during his funeral.

Hill, the cousin of Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, died on tour in Japan from a dental infection that reached his heart. During a May 23 funeral at the Carver Theater in New Orleans, his trumpet was put on display and passed around by relatives but went missing soon after the service.

The musician’s brother Leroy Hill told the New Orleans Advocate he suspects someone took the instrument. “I think somebody stole it, truthfully,” he said. “Maybe they stole it because they think they can sell it down the line.

Or maybe they stole it just to keep it, to say, ‘I have Travis’ horn.’” Hill added that he filed a report with police May 26 and sought surveillance video from the theater. Officials for the Carver told the paper surveillance footage had been reused by the time the police department requested a copy.