In Atlanta, a flight experienced a delay lasting over an hour. An ex-Army soldier retrieved his saxophone from the overhead compartment and performed holiday tunes.
Old chap, 70, was heading back home from a family visit in Detroit, on a Delta Air Lines flight to Augusta, Georgia. Delayed at the gate due to a staffing issue, he noticed some whiny toddlers across the aisle.
So, he nudged a flight attendant distributing water and suggested, "Miss, would you mind if I played a few tunes on my saxophone? I've got a feeling I can put them little tykes to sleep." She asked if he had one, to which he replied, "Got it tucked away in the overhead bin."
With the flight attendant's approval from the cockpit, he kicked off an impromptu serenade, strolling up and down the aisle, performing like Kenny G, playing festive Christmas songs on his saxophone. Passengers applauded, joined in singing, and shouted requests from their seats.
"Who's got a favorite Christmas tune?" he asked. "Finally, someone said 'Oh Holy Night,' then 'Jingle Bells.' I'd play one, and then another title would come up, and I'd just go ahead and play it."
He showcased a dose of tunes, such as "Holly Jolly Christmas," "Here Comes Santa Claus," and "Silent Night." The musician, a dad of four and granddad of ten, didn't forget the little one, playing "Baby Shark" for a toddler who moved rhythmically in their seat.
For a passenger curious about his favorite Christmas song, he played "Mary, Did You Know?" by Pentatonix – a rendition that always leaves him teary-eyed.
"Everyone has meaning with these songs. They forge connections," he said.
He served in the Military Band for years
Hoey's bio has always swirled around music.
He honed his saxophone skills in the military, he said. He attended the Armed Forces School of Music at the US Navy’s Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia, near Norfolk, and played for two decades in the US Army Band, including a stint with the Eighth Army Band in South Korea.
The saxophone transcends almost all music genres, he said. "You'll find it in classical music, in period music, different eras, in rock, jazz, reggae. It's just so easy to enjoy and listen to."
After retirement, Hoey attended Colorado State University to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in music education. He taught music in Colorado schools before moving to a suburb of Augusta, where he occasionally substitutes as a middle and elementary school teacher in, yes, music.
"Teaching music to kids is sheer joy for me," he said, adding that reaching out for the saxophone to calm frayed nerves on the plane was instinctual.
"Music is all I've ever done, and I feel comfortable doing it," he said. "It's a beautiful time of the year, and the tension on the plane just made me think of playing something."
The airline admired Hoey's performance.
"While our in-flight entertainment system offers many options to keep our customers entertained, we're grateful for this heartwarming moment and Hoey's service to our country," a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.
His viral in-plane performance has had a significant impact
Hoey isn't sure how long he played his saxophone on the plane. He guessed 15-20 minutes. But while he's lost track of time, he's sure of one thing: Those few minutes have already had a significant impact on his life.
One passenger, Kate Dailey, captured his performance on video and shared it on her Facebook page.
"I was taken aback when this man pulled out his saxophone and played carols ... up and down the aisle. The atmosphere on the plane instantly changed," she wrote in her post.
"People were clapping, singing along, and cheering for this man's stellar playing. It was such a heartwarming event to witness and an enormous gift to everyone during such a challenging travel time."
She went on, "Thank you, sir, for your service back then, and now. You've restored my faith in humanity."
Hoey learned word of his Facebook video from a woman who attended his church. Several people in the comments shared his identity, and the video quickly spread across social media, with people from his past reaching out.
"After that, it just went viral," Hoey said. "People I haven't talked to in years, in decades, have been contacting me."
Before the post, he had no idea that someone had recorded a video or that it had garnered so much attention.
"I usually play with my eyes closed. So I didn't notice lots of people with cameras around," he said.
Hoey always carries a saxophone with him and plans to continue his tradition of bringing joy to people – whenever the chance arises.
Following his impromptu performance, the elderly traveler reflected on his love for music, saying, "The saxophone has been a part of my life for decades, from serving in the Military Band to teaching music in schools." He then shared his plan, "I always carry a saxophone with me, and I'll continue to share the joy of music whenever I can."
Inspired by Hoey's experience, another passenger decided to incorporate music into their own travels, writing, "This incident has made me want to carry a small instrument on my future travels, just in case I come across a moment where I can bring a smile to someone's face."
