Herb Alpert Biography

Herb Alpert was born in 1935 in California, to talented musicians. His parents, who had immigrated from Romania, were skilled mandolin and violin players who encouraged a love of music in their young son. Herb began his studies at the age of eight, starting with trumpet lessons, and carried his studies all the way through his high school years, until he graduated and entered the U.S. Army. While in the military, he continued to perform, and after returning to the states, Herb Alpert signed with RCA Records and released his first single, “Tell it to the Birds.” At the same time, he teamed up with Jerry Moss to form what would become A&M Records, thus launching the start of a music career which would last well into the new millennium.

For the remainder of the 1960’s, Herb Alpert went on to win multiple awards and give audiences a staggering number of hit songs, most of them alongside the Tijuana Brass, including: “The Lonely Bull,” “Marching Thru Madrid,” “Struttin’ with Maria,” “Mexican Drummer Man,” “Mae,” “A Taste of Honey,” “Zorba the Greek,” “3^rd Man Theme,” “What Now My Love,” “Spanish Flea,” “Flamingo,” “Mame,” “Casino Royale,” “The Happening,” “Carmen,” “Slick,” “This Guy’s in Love with You,” “My Favorite Things,” “Zazueira,” and the iconic hit “Ob La Di Ob La Da.” The hits continued for two more decades, with Herb Alpert performing mostly as a solo artist. Notable singles during this time period include: “The Malteste Melody,” “Jerusalem,” “Summertime,” “Last Tango in Paris,” “Save the Sunlight,” “El Bimbo,” “Rise,” “Street Life,” “Kamali,” “Come What May,” “Manhattan Melody,” “Route 101,” “Fandango,” “Garden Party,” “Red Hot,” “Bullish,” “Keep Your Eye on Me,” “Diamonds,” “Making Love in the Rain,” and “3 O’Clock Jump.”

In recognition of his talents, Herb Alpert has been the recipient of multiple awards, including eight Grammy Awards, the Grammy Trustees Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy. Fourteen of Alpert’s albums have risen to the platinum status, and his sales exceed seventy million worldwide. Alpert has also earned a Tony Award for his production work on the award-winning play Angels in America.

In addition to his work in music, Herb Alpert is a talented visual artist, with expressionistic paintings and sculptures that have exhibited in a number of galleries in the United States and abroad.

Today, in the new millennium, Herb Alpert and wife Lani Hall continue to perform and record (most recently releasing the album I Feel You in 2011), and contribute to their philanthropic endeavors through the Herb Alpert Foundation. An exhibition of Herb’s artwork also recently showed in Santa Monica, California, in 2013.