See a young Herb Alpert in his high school yearbook photos and get to know the ‘The Lonely Bull’ and ‘Ladyfingers’ musician better.
Birthdate: March 31, 1935 (Age 90)
High School: Fairfax High School, Los Angeles, CA
Yearbooks: 1953
Who is Herb Alpert?
Who could forget Alpert’s infamous single, “The Lonely Bull,” inspired by a bullfight he witnessed in Tijuana, Mexico, or his angelic melodies in “Spanish Flea.” The ‘Tijuana Brass’ musician played tunes like no other, and created lasting memories for those who had the pleasure of listening to his work during his impressive run in the ‘60s.
Herb Alpert is a world famous musician, known for his ability to blend multiple genres. Alpert has mesmerized audiences over the years with his trumpet playing, creating a unique style that blends Jazz, Latin, funk, pop, and R&B.
What Should You Know About Herb Alpert?
- Early Life/Education: Born on March 31, 1935, Herb Alpert graduated from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles in 1953, where he was a member of the gymnastics team, and continued to focus on the trumpet, which he began playing at age 8. He later attended USC and played in the Trojan Marching Band before serving in the U.S. Army.
- Musical Breakthrough: Alpert’s 1962 single “The Lonely Bull” launched his career and inspired the formation of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
- ’60s Fame: With hits like “A Taste of Honey” and “Spanish Flea,” Alpert became one of the decade’s top-selling artists, competing with The Beatles and Frank Sinatra.
- A Decorated Legend: A nine-time Grammy Award winner and co-founder of A&M Records, Alpert remains one of the best-selling instrumentalists in music history.
Herb Alpert: A Jazz-Pop Pioneer
Early Years
Alpert recorded his first single in 1962, originally titled “Twinkle Star.” After Alpert experienced a bullfight in Tijuana, Mexico, the ambience of the fight inspired him to change his song title to “The Lonely Bull” and incorporate elements of the fight into the song.
Tijuana Brass
The bullfight experience also inspired Alpert to create Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, which was originally a solo act, with Alpert overdubbing his own trumpet, slightly out of sync.
Alpert continued recording as the ‘Tijuana Brass’ through the early ‘60s, collaborating with a handful of session musicians, including the Wrecking Crew. After his album Whipped Cream & Other Delights outsold musicians such as The Beatles and Frank Sinatra, Alpert found it necessary to turn the ‘Tijuana Brass’ into an actual touring band.
Later Years and Today
The band continued to dominate throughout the ‘60s, releasing hits such as “A Taste of Honey” and “Spanish Flea” until Alpert disbanded the ‘Tijuana Brass in 1969, and proceeded on with his own solo career. Alpert continued to release Billboard Hot 100 hits as a solo artist, and has continued his success all the way to today, as he is still touring at 90 years of age.
Tony Barnard, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Where Did Herb Alpert Go to School?
High School Education
Herb Alpert attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, where he was a member of their gymnastics team. Alpert began focusing on the trumpet during his senior year, which marked the beginning of his legendary career.
College Education
Alpert continued his education at the University of Southern California, participating in the USC Trojan Marching Band for two years. Alpert did not graduate, however, dropping out of school to serve in the U.S. Army, where he played in the 6th Army Band.
Herb Alpert: Then vs Now
Alpert has always caught people’s attention with his handsome and suave looks. From the ‘50s to today, here’s how he looked from his teenage years all the way to today.
Then: New service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Who is Herb Alpert’s Family?
Musical Upbringing
Alpert was raised by his mother, Tillie, and father, Louis Leib in Boyle Heights, a neighborhood on the east side of Los Angeles. Alpert was the youngest of three, with two older siblings, David and Mimi. Alpert’s parents were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine and Romania.
Alpert was born into a family of music. His mother was a violin teacher, and his father, although primarily working as a tailor, also played the mandolin. His brother David played the drums, and his sister Mimi was a piano player. Alpert began playing the trumpet at eight years old.
Marriages and Children
Alpert married Sharon Mae Lubin at the Presidio of San Francisco, a park and former military base, in 1956. They had two children together, a son, Dore, born in 1960, and a daughter, Eden, born in 1966. The couple divorced in 1971.
Alpert married singer Lani Hall in 1974. They have a daughter, actress Alia Halpert, born in 1976. The couple often perform together, and have recorded several albums over the years, including a live album, Anything Goes, in 2009. Hall and Alpert still perform together today.
Tony Barnard, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Taste of Herb Alpert
Since the 1960s, Herb Alpert has blessed the ears of fans and listeners worldwide with his stellar musical talent. Alpert incorporated a new style of pop-infused jazz, bringing jazz music to a more mainstream audience.
Alpert has influenced many popular musicians, including the Carpenters and Cat Stevens, as well as music lovers all over the world, invoking a sense of nostalgia among those who followed the ‘Tijuana Brass’ during the ‘60s.
Alpert’s most popular hits include:
- “The Lonely Bull”
- “A Taste of Honey”
- “Green Peppers”
- “Love Potion #9”
- “Ladyfingers”
- “Butterball”
- “Rise”
- “Smile”
- “Billy Cha”
- “Spanish Flea”
Alpert’s notable albums consist of:
- The Lonely Bull(1962)
- Volume 2(1963)
- South of the Border(1964)
- Whipped Cream & Other Delights(1965)
- Going Places(1965)
- What Now My Love(1966)
- The Beat of the Brass(1968)
- Summertime(1971)
- Coney Island(1975)
- Beyond(1980)
- Magic Man(1981)
- Fandango(1982)
- Blow Your Own Horn(1983)
- Midnight Sun(1992)
- Passion Dance(1997)
- Steppin’ Out(with Lani Hall)(2013)
- Come Fly with Me(2015)
- Wish Upon a Star(2023)
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