Happy Birthday, Herb Alpert

03/31/2000 7:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(3/31/00, 7 a.m. ET) - Legendary trumpeter Herb Alpert celebrates his 65th birthday today (March 31). Born in Los Angeles, Alpert began playing the trumpet at the age of eight. After he left the Army, Alpert attempted an acting career but soon turned back to music. He was a successful songwriter, co-writing such hits as Herb Alpert's "Wonderful World," and he also produced the duo Jan & Dean.

In 1962, Alpert and his partner Jerry Moss founded a label called A&M Records, with Alpert's band the Tijuana Brass as its first act. The fledgling label's first success was the group's massive hit single, "The Lonely Bull."

This January, Alpert received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards, and backstage he recalled how life changed for him after "The Lonely Bull" became a big hit. "Wow, man, it was like a rocket ship," he said. "I wasn't ready for it, especially after we started traveling and doing all of the heavy-duty shows -- the Ed Sullivan Shows and Andy Williams and Dean Martin, Danny Kaye. Those shows just... it just was a blast off for all the records."

A&M began as a modest enterprise operating out of Alpert's garage, but eventually became the world's biggest independent label, with a roster that ranged from the The Carpenters to Sting and Janet Jackson. However, Alpert was first and foremost an artist, and he and the Tijuana Brass enjoyed massive success throughout the '60s with hits such as "Tijuana Taxi" and "Spanish Flea." Alpert began to record as a solo act in the 1970s and scored such hits as the 1979 classic "Rise" and 1987's "Diamonds." In 1990, Alpert and Moss sold A&M and in 1994 launched another label called Almo Sounds, which recently announced that it will soon close.

Alpert continues to record and collaborate; he teamed with producer-keyboardist Jeff Lorber to record 1996's Second Wind, and he joined forces with former Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish to create his 1999 release, Colors.

In addition to his musical and entrepreneurial activities, Alpert is a gifted artist whose vibrant paintings have been exhibited around the world. He has worn the hat of Broadway producer, producing such hit shows as the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Angels In America, and co-producing the hit musical Jelly's Last Jam and the play Seven Guitars.

He is also a philanthropist -- his Herb Alpert Foundation is dedicated to helping young people realize their artistic potential, and supports educational programs dedicated to the training of young artists.

-- Lucy Tauss, New York

Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@launch.com.