The first time I met Adam, we were at open mic night at “Brother’s Coffee.” He was looping the drum beat, layering his voice, and beatboxing, creating an incredible orchestra of “One.” I’d never heard anything like that — who is this amazing guy? Well, we all knew this guy, this creative, smart, loving, funny guy, this genius. Adam and I became friends. He taught my son Skyler and myself guitar lessons, and was that friend who popped over to our house unannounced. He was like family. During that time, Adam helped me realize my creative dreams and ideas, but he made them better. He helped bring them to life. Adam was a part of the plays I wrote, as an actor, with the sound, and as an editor. He and I, along with other friends, were involved in the Gillette Community Theatre. Adam and I were a great production team. I’ll never forget Adam’s first acting role in a play that I co-wrote called “Ghost Capers.” He played the role of a spooky green mobster boss ghost named “Ghouliani.” Adam was a natural on stage. He was scary, yet hilarious! Every show he added something new to his Ghouliani character whether it was enormous hands, a black wig, and eventually he even did his own green ghostly makeup. Adam’s sense of humor added to the play as he came up with unique sound effects for the show. He also performed “the Monster Mash” with other cast members during intermission where he sang, danced, and wore a crazy scientist wig which was a big hit with the crowd. It was truly “A Graveyard Smash.” Together, Adam and I created “The Jazz Luck Club” where we produced 15+ nights of magical music here in Gillette, Wyoming often featuring Steve Schofield’s “Big Horn Big Band.” Adam came up with the name for the club. He thought these events should include food, music and friends like going to a “potluck,” and that’s how he came up with the name “jazz luck.” Adam was so creative! Some of the “Jazz Luck Club” productions we did include: “New Orleans Night” with Ronnie Bedford and Friends, “Coffee Friends” with New York musician, storyteller, and poet David Gonzalez,”Havana Night” with the Big Horn Big Band,” “Calle Mambo-a Night of Latin Jazz, Salsa, and Afro Cuban Rhythms,” and more. (See full list below) Together, Adam and I packed the house! Adam wrote the grants, and found sponsors for these events. He also created cool posters for these gigs, while I taught swing and latin dancing. During that time, I was also a budding singer and guitar player; nervous and insecure on stage, but Adam would get me out there. Once the Gillette Community Theatre held a “Ghost Walk” with live music entertainment at Brother’s Coffee which was led by Adam. Adam sang songs like Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London,'' and that Halloween night he plopped a pink wig on my head and had me sing “Crazy” by Gnarles Barkley. Adam helped build my confidence as an entertainer during those times. We pushed each other, and it was fun! I loved him. He was my dear friend. Eventually, life took us in different directions. We always hoped that someday we could find the time to take a walk down memory lane. To my regret, that never happened so I will stroll down memory lane with him in heaven one day. Rest in Peace my dear friend Adam Curtis Hart. I’ll bet you are in heaven singing and playing music with the Angels.

Renee Fritzen

Jazz Luck Club Events: “New Orleans Night” with Ronnie Bedford and Friends, “Coffee Friends” with New York musician, storyteller, and poet David Gonzalez,”Havana Night” with the Big Horn Big Band,” “Calle Mambo-a Night of Latin Jazz, Salsa, and Afro Cuban Rhythms,” “Put On Your Dancing Shoes” with the Big Horn Big Band, “Dance the Night Away” with the Big Horn Big Band, “The First Christmas” with the CoalTrane Jazztet, “Just the Way You Are” with the CoalTrane Jazztet, “Save the Last Dance for Me” with the Big Horn Big Band, “The History of Jazz” with the Big Horn Big Band, “Swing into Spring” with the Big Horn Big Band, “A Good Boat” with David Gonzalez, and “Over the Hill” with the CoalTrane Jazztet.

Gillette Community Theater: Ghost Capers, The Hawthorn Tree, A Christmas Carol.

Adam was a very special work friend of my husband's for over a decade. The funniest story perhaps is when Phil returned home and shared that he, Adam, and two other work friends skipped down the hall together because research showed that skipping was good for the brain!

There are many other stories to share, particularly how wonderful of a father Adam was to Paisley. Soon after her birth, Adam and Terri were seen pushing Paisley in her stroller at the CC Recreation Center in Gillette, how Adam was smiling down at Paisley with pride and joy...and the numerous times when Adam accompanied Paisley to the Rec Center for Father-Daughter swim days.

From his musical talents to caring about his family, friends, and the community and his contagious laughter, Adam embodied them all with genuineness... We enjoyed watching Adam and his musical colleagues perform during Open Mic Nights at Coffee Brothers in the early 2000's. My husband always commented on Adam's gifted musical talents: song-writing, guitar playing, and mixing. (It's wonderful to see that he has imparted an interest in playing music on their lovely daughter, Paisley!)

May the fond memories of Adam and the special times shared help his family, loved ones, friends and colleagues in their  healing during this time.

Much love to all,

Sharon Murphree  

I'm shattered, devastated over this loss. Nothing can impact this world quite like Adam did. I'm continually sending love and strength to his family and friends. 💓

Adam and I collaborated musically several times over the past 15 years, our duo name being “Little House,” and I knew without a doubt that we weren’t done creating together. We’ll have to try again the next time around. But for now, I’ve made this mashup of one of our songs-in-progress (from 2019), recorded during a writing session. This was the second or third time we worked on the song—it’s a mess. But now, to me, it’s a damn beautiful mess.

Adam, I love you, friend. I'll find you in the next life. 💓

Though my heart is broken at the loss of Adam,I will always remember  his big genuine smile. He and I enjoyed explosives and miscellaneous other tom foolery when together. I taught him the finer art of  fireworks and he taught me that bottle rockets could go under water and swirl wildly in his mothers watering can. 

I loved listening to him on the Valley radio station, he truly had a gift for DJing. I admired his courage to perform in public even debuting his own music. 

We enjoyed so many fun,silly and happy moments and I am so glad I got to be Adam's uncle. Love you forever and I'll see you down the road someday.  Uncle John

I met Adam in the 3rd Grade, having recently moved to Des Moines from another city. We instantly clicked and together with our friend Chris Nothdorth, basically had rotating weekly sleep-overs at each other’s houses for the rest of elementary school and junior high.

My best memories growing-up mostly involve Adam. Swimming at the Hart’s pool. Creeking and biking in the Clive IA Greenbelt. Playing Saturday morning YMCA basketball. Camping at Walnut Woods. Learning about music together, creating mix tapes on cassettes and later writing songs until 4 am in our basements. And definitely getting into some mischief.

Adam was endlessly curious- always finding the newest thing, always creating, and always generous and kind, and always truly living in the moment without reservations.

Later we went to our first concert together in 1993 (Phish at the Des Moines Civic Center where one of the guys operating the soundboard bought us beer which we chugged at intermission in the bathroom stall)… and many other adventures.

I moved to another city shortly after this but we kept in touch in college- usually meeting-up for concerts. My last quality time with Adam was Bonnaroo in TN 2005. We saw an amazing late-night set by My Morning Jacket that went to 4:00 am and was one of those magical times where even at the time you know it will be a feeling of being young, free, and connected that will live with your forever.

Sadly, Adam and I lost Chris in 1998 when he was killed in a late night car accident at only 18. I am absolutely crushed and feel guilty to be the only one of the three of us to still be here on the Earth.

Be kind to everyone. Stay curious. Live in the moment. And tell people how much they mean to you.