You may know this well-known personality as a true jazzman and philanthropist from Los Angeles. Herb Alpert is an American trumpeter, pianist, and singer-songwriter, as well as a producer and arranger. His long list of talents also includes conducting, painting, sculpting, and theater production. Along with Jerry Moss, he co-founded the legendary American record label, A&M Records. The story of Herb Alpert’s life and career is fascinating, and you can find more details in our article on the los-angeles-trend website.
The Early Years
Herb’s family originally came from Radomyshl, a town in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. His grandfather, Avrum Alpert, was a well-known merchant there. In the early 20th century, Avrum’s children, including Herb’s parents, emigrated from Radomyshl.
Both of Herb’s parents were musical—his father was a tailor by trade but also played the mandolin, while his mother taught violin. This sparked a love for music in Herb from an early age. What started as a dream quickly became his life’s work. In an interview, he recalled how lucky he was to have constant support and encouragement to pursue music, especially since many children lost the opportunity when art programs were cut from public schools. His older brother was a drummer, his sister played the piano, and Herb himself started playing the trumpet at just eight years old.
Herb Alpert was born on March 31, 1935, in Los Angeles, where his family lived in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. In 10th grade, Alpert attended Fairfax High School, and by 11th grade, he was a member of the gymnastics team. Interestingly, he specialized in the rings. Unfortunately, an appendectomy a week before the league championships prevented him from competing. He refocused on playing the trumpet during his senior year.
Education and First Steps
In the 1950s, Herb Alpert was a student at the University of Southern California (USC). For two years, he was part of the USC Trojan Marching Band, which is famously known as “The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe.” This experience was invaluable to his development as a musician. You can learn more about the university and its music programs by reading our article about the USC Thornton School of Music.
During the Korean War, Herb served in the U.S. Army while continuing to pursue his passion for music. He played in the Sixth Army’s U.S. Army Band.
In 1956, Herb Alpert was credited as the “Drummer at Mount Sinai” in the classic film The Ten Commandments.
A Soaring Musical Career
When creative people team up, they can make something truly outstanding. This was the case with Herb Alpert’s collaboration with Rob Weerts, a promising songwriter. Together, they wrote several songs that became top 20 hits, including “Baby Talk” for the American rock duo Jan and Dean, and “Wonderful World” for the “King of Soul,” Sam Cooke.
The year 1960 was particularly significant for Herb Alpert. He launched his solo singing career on RCA Records, using the stage name “Dore Alpert.” Two years later, he and his business partner Jerry Moss founded their own label, “Carnival Records.” Their first release was “Tell It to the Birds.” After the label’s second single, “Love Is Back In Style,” was released, they decided to rename the label to “A&M Records.”
A&M Records
A&M Records is a famous record label founded in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. Initially, the label operated independently and its popularity and influence in the music industry steadily grew. In 1989, the label was acquired by the large multinational record label PolyGram. However, A&M Records continued to operate as an autonomous, front-line label within PolyGram’s framework. You can read more about music production companies on our site.
Today, A&M Records is owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a subsidiary of Interscope-Geffen-A&M. In 2024, the label was relaunched with a new roster of artists.
The Tijuana Brass
The song “Twinkle Star,” written by Sol Lake, is considered the launchpad for Herb Alpert’s solo career. The artist initially felt his first attempts were unsuccessful. But after some experimentation, he tried adapting the melody to a trumpet style and renamed the song “The Lonely Bull.” He then personally financed the creation of a single. Radio DJs started playing it, and by the fall of 1962, the song had cracked the Top 10.
The debut album for the group “Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass” was titled The Lonely Bull. The album featured multiple layers of Herb’s own trumpet playing, though they were slightly out of sync.
The second wave of success and popularity came in 1966 with the album Whipped Cream & Other Delights, which was released in 1965. The sales were staggering, surpassing even those of The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and The Rolling Stones. This led to the studio group transforming into a touring ensemble.
After many highs, there was an inevitable low. In 1969, Herb Alpert went through a personal crisis where he felt at odds with his trumpet. That same year, he disbanded the Tijuana Brass and stopped performing publicly. After a four-year creative hiatus, Herb returned to the studio with a renewed artistic vision. His main instrument, the trumpet, sounded more soulful and thoughtful, with a renewed focus on jazz.
A New Chapter
For the next two decades, Herb Alpert released albums almost every year.
In 1977, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in May 2000, Herb Alpert was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
Beginning in 2006, he released more than a dozen records. A standout moment came in 2013 when his album Steppin’ Out earned him a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album. On July 10, 2013, in the White House’s East Room, Barack and Michelle Obama presented Alpert with the 2012 National Medal of Arts.
At the end of 2024, the artist formed a new version of the Tijuana Brass, which embarked on a tour in 2025 titled “Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass & Other Delights.” It’s worth noting that in 2025, he celebrated his 90th birthday.
Personal Life
In 1956, Herb Alpert married Sharon Mae Lubin for the first time. They had two children, Dore, born in 1960, and Eden, born in 1966. The couple divorced in 1971.
In 1974, Herb Alpert married again, this time to the American singer Lani Hall, the former lead vocalist of the group Brasil ’66. Their daughter, actress Aria Alpert, was born in 1976. The couple has recorded several albums together, including Anything Goes (2009), I Feel You (2011), and Steppin’ Out (2013). They continue to perform together, showcasing their strong partnership both at home and on stage.
Philanthropy
The renowned jazz trumpeter, composer, and singer is also a dedicated philanthropist. In the 1980s, he established the Herb Alpert Foundation, which supports youth and arts education, addresses environmental issues, and has helped fund the PBS series Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason and later Moyers & Company. He also created the Alpert Award in the Arts in partnership with the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
In 2007, Herb Alpert and his wife donated $30 million to UCLA to establish and endow the Herb Alpert School of Music as part of the restructured UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
The couple didn’t stop there, donating $24 million—including a $15 million contribution in April 2008—to CalArts for its music programs. This funding helped support the cultural activism group “The Yes Men.” The Herb Alpert Foundation has also committed over $5 million to the Harlem School of the Arts, which renamed its building the Herb Alpert Center in 2013. In 2016, he donated $10.1 million to Los Angeles City College and later founded the Louis and Tillie Alpert Music Centre in Jerusalem.
Herb Alpert’s story is an inspiring example of talent, determination, and philanthropy. His legacy continues to inspire and empower countless people.
