An evening with Herb Alpert
Jul 31, 2019 09:47AM ● By Beacon Senior News
American music icon comes to the Avalon
At 84, Herb Alpert still has a lot of energy. He wakes up every morning thinking about what he’s going to sculpt, paint or play on his trumpet that day, and even continues to perform in concert. Why? Because he still loves it! Lucky for us, Grand Junction’s Avalon Theatre is on his 2019 concert tour.
Finding the feeling
Alpert is best known for founding A&M Records with his friend Jerry Moss. The record company had humble beginnings, starting with just a $200 investment and based out of Alpert’s garage. Now it’s considered to be the most successful independent label in history, selling for half a billion dollars in 1989 to Polygram records.
Before starting A&M, Alpert began his musical career writing songs with his friend Lou Adler. They penned Sam Cooke’s big hit, “Wonderful World.” Cooke taught Alpert to listen for the feeling in the music.
Alpert remembered finding that feeling when he was at a bullfight in Tijuana, Mexico. He felt the excitement in the crowd that was stirred by the fanfare of the mariachi brass band. When he got home, he wanted to capture that energy and sound. He experimented with layering his trumpet recordings in his garage studio until he got it just right. The resulting song, “The Lonely Bull,” took off like a rocket and The Tijuana Brass was born.
This was just the beginning. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass sold over 72 million records with five number one hits, 15 gold records and 14 platinum albums. A & M Records went on to record artists like Quincy Jones, Liza Minnelli, Janet Jackson, Cat Stevens, The Carpenters, Police, Sting and Sérgio Mendes and Brasil ’66.
Success breeds success
The 19-year-old lead singer’s emotional vocals propelled Brasil ’66 to international stardom. Surrounded by great music, Hall and Alpert found their way into each other's hearts. The couple married and recently celebrated 45 years together.
Alpert is the only recording artist in history to have a number one hit as a singer and as an instrumentalist. He bumped Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” out of the number one spot with his rendition of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “This Guy’s In Love With You” in 1968.
Alpert’s achievements include nine Grammy Awards. In 2017, Alpert was nominated for another Grammy. Billboard listed Alpert as no. 7 on their Greatest Of All Time Billboard 200 Artists.
In 2006, Alpert and Moss were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Former president Barack Obama awarded the National Medal of Honor for the Arts to Alpert in 2013.
Alpert has found himself in the right place at the right time so often, he feels inspired to put more creativity, art and positivity out into the world.
Alpert and Hall founded the Herb Alpert Foundation in the late 1980s, and have contributed tens of millions of dollars to the arts and education. Alpert believes it’s important for kids to experience creative expression at an early age.
See him live!
The multi-Grammy-award-winning trumpeter and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will perform at The Historic Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction on September 24.
Alpert will be joined by fabulous musicians who have been with him for over 12 years—Bill Cantos on piano and vocals, Hussain Jiffry on six-string bass and Michael Shapiro on drums. Together, they perform legendary classics from The Tijuana Brass and other audience favorites, as well as musical surprises that showcase the ensemble’s jazz roots and talents. The performance also includes a multimedia experience with a large screen display featuring classic moments and rare footage from Alpert’s long career.
“I like to make uplifting music. I get energy from a concert. I have this opportunity to make people feel good,” said Alpert.
Tickets
Call 263-5757 or buy them online at www.ticketmaster.com.
