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Herb Alpert music biography continued...

on March 31, 1935, Alpert began trumpet lessons at about the age of eight and played at dances as a teenager. In 1957, Alpert teamed up with Lou Adler, another burgeoning lyricist, as a songwriter for Keen Records. A number of songs written or co-written by Alpert during the following two years became top twenty hits, including "Baby Talk" by Jan and Dean, "Wonderful World" by Sam Cooke. Along with his partner, Albert also formed A&M Records, which would go on to be a music industry giant. Albert recorded "Lonely Bull," his first song for the label, and one that would go on to be a top ten hit. Alpert and his backup band, the Tijuana Brass, remained the label's premiere act: on the strength of the hit "A Taste of Honey," his 1965 LP Whipped Cream and Other Delights topped the charts, popularizing his Latin-influenced style (called "Ameriachi"). The follow-up, 1965's Going Places, also hit number one, spawning the hit "Spanish Flea." In 1966, Albert's tune "What Now My Love," would land on the top of the charts for a remarkable nine weeks and launch a string of successful albums, including 1966's S.R.O. and the following year's Sounds Like and Herb Alpert's Ninth. Although his star faded in the 70s, Alpert maid a major comeback in 1979 with the album Rise. It reached the Top Ten with a title track which topped the singles charts and became the biggest hit of his career. In 1987, Alpert again enjoyed a resurgence, when the lead single off the album Keep Your Eye On Me included a guest vocal from one of A&M's most popular stars—Janet Jackson.



All in all, Alpert's musical accomplishments include five number one hits, twenty-eight albums on the Billboard charts, eight Grammy Awards, fourteen Platinum albums and fifteen Gold albums. As of 1996, Alpert had sold 72 million albums worldwide. He has now branched out into painting, Broadway theater and philanthropy, but will always be known as one the towering musicians of 20th Century pop.