Young Musician Robbed at Gunpoint -- Trombone Shorty Replaces Stolen Instrument
Trombone Shorty stepped in recently to help a young NOLA music student who was robbed of his instrument. We've heard about the routine gunpoint robberies where victims are forced to surrender their phones and wallets; but a few days ago, New Orleans police responded to a different kind of robbery. A 14-year-old musician was on his way home from band practice Thursday night when a van pulled up next to him just minutes from his school. A gunman hoped out of the van and grabbed his shirt, demanding his trombone, New Orleans police said. The boy pulled away and ran, but once he heard gunshots, he dropped his instrument.
Trombones can range anywhere from $80 to $5000, so this was no simple loss for the young musician who became a victim late last week. However, thanks to musician Troy Andrews (widely known as Trombone Shorty) the 14-year-old trombone player now has a brand new custom instrument.
Trombone Shorty performed Saturday at the Newport Jazz Festival, so Bill Taylor, the executive director of the Trombone Shorty Foundation, delivered a brand new trombone engraved with the name "Trombone Shorty" to the young boy's home before the show.
"He was like speechless. And I got Troy on the phone. As soon as I gave him the horn I had Shorty on the line and gave him the phone," Taylor said.
Trombone Shorty described his phone call with the young musician in an email to Billboard Magazine, saying "He was full of joy, thankful and happy. I think we were both very excited to speak to each other. He seems like a cool kid and I'm happy that after a situation like that, I can help to put a smile on his face."
For fear of the boy's safety, the mother accepted the offer of the new trombone only after confirming that her son's name would not be released. Thankfully, the boy was left uninjured and a traumatic experience was turned into one full of positivity and hope. Thank you, Trombone Shorty!
