Kurt Huget teaches guitar on Thursday evenings in San Quentin’s upper yard Art Center. He also regularly performs at meals for the needy at St. Vincent’s Dining Room in San Rafael.
Huget sang and played guitar for over 700 needy men, women and children as they ate free Thanksgiving meals at St. Vincent’s. Channel 4 KRON News covered the event and interviewed several men and women who were moved to tears as they expressed their thankfulness.
They complimented how tender and well-seasoned the turkey was, along with the dressing, cranberries, and other side dishes. The Thanksgiving meal recipients were very grateful for St. Vincent services. They expressed how then they would not have been able to enjoy such a well-prepared meal on Thanksgiving Day.
As the festivities aired on KRON-TV News, the inmates at San Quentin were proud to see one of their own volunteers on local television. Huget was asked, “What made you want to play at a soup kitchen?” Huget stated, “Because that’s where people need to hear music. It’s much more enjoyable than playing in a bar. People really appreciate the free music”.
His selections included “blues, country, and reggae–a little something for everybody.”
St. Vincent serves meals every day to people in need. Every year they serve at least 300 Thanksgiving meals, however this year they served about 700 meals. Huget plays music at St. Vincent once a month. His dedication to bringing joy to the less fortunate through music has made a strong impression on his San Quentin guitar students.
Several students have expressed to him how they would also like to play music at homeless shelters, hospital and elder care homes. Huget also played music at San Quentin’s Breast Cancer walk in September.