Herb Alpert achieved the distinction of being the only musician to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 as both a vocalist and an instrumentalist. Beyond his performance career, he co-founded A&M Records, a move that fundamentally influenced his professional trajectory and established him as a significant executive within the American music industry.
Early Development and Service
Born in Los Angeles in 1935, Herb Alpert grew up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. He began playing the trumpet at age eight. During his education at Fairfax High School and the University of Southern California, he engaged in various activities, including participating in the USC Trojan Marching Band. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, performing as a member of the 6th Army Band.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →The Rise of A&M Records
Alpert began his career in songwriting, collaborating with Lou Adler at Keen Records during the late 1950s. By 1962, he and Jerry Moss launched their own label. Initially named Carnival Records, they quickly renamed it A&M Records to avoid legal issues regarding the name. The label would eventually distribute 28 of Alpert's albums that charted on the U.S. Billboard 200, achieving widespread commercial success.
Tijuana Brass and Commercial Success
Inspired by a bullfight in Tijuana, Mexico, Alpert recorded 'The Lonely Bull' in 1962. This success led to the formation of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. The 1965 album Whipped Cream & Other Delights reached number one on the charts in 1966. The group also provided music for the ABC game show The Dating Game and performed the theme for the 1967 film Casino Royale.
Vocal Achievement and Recognition
In 1968, Alpert released 'This Guy's in Love with You', which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite a brief retirement from public performance in 1969, he continued his career, eventually earning 14 platinum and 15 gold albums. His contributions were formally acknowledged through multiple honors, including the National Medal of Arts, awarded by Barack Obama in 2012, and his 2006 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Fast facts
- Born: 1935, Los Angeles
- Primary Instrument: Trumpet
- Record Label: A&M Records
- Total estimated records sold: 72 million
- Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 2006
- Awarded National Medal of Arts: 2012
Questions readers ask
Was the album cover for Whipped Cream & Other Delights actually covered in whipped cream?
No, Alpert confirmed in 2025 that the substance used was shaving cream.
What record did Alpert achieve on the Billboard Hot 100?
He is the only musician to reach number one as both a vocalist and an instrumentalist.
Achievements
- Grammy Trustees Award — 1997
- National Medal of Arts
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — 2006
- Educated at University of Southern California, USC Thornton School of Music and Fairfax High School
- Worked as actor, trumpeter and conductor
.jpg)