After returning to St. Petersburg, Al was approached by Ernie Calhoun, the leader of a well-known local jazz band named "Ernie Calhoun and the Soul Brothers".
Shortly after joining "Ernie Calhoun and the Soul Brothers", Al started his own band "The Allstars", which consisted of a wide array of musical talents of different ages, musical backgrounds, and race, but with a common interest in jazz.