Not only is he the “A” in A&M Records but the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was a hitmaker with the Tijuana Brass (“Lonely Bull,” “A Taste of Honey”) and even in collaboration with A&M artist Janet Jackson (“Diamonds”). The Los Angeles trumpeter is the only artist to land at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as both a vocalist (“This Guy’s in Love with You”, 1968) and an instrumentalist (“Rise,” 1979). He’s touring once again with his wife Lani Hall, best known as the vocalist of Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 behind “The Fool on the Hill.” (STAR TRIBUNE)
It’s rude, I know, to say “Herb Alpert’s still alive?” but will you allow “Herb Alpert’s still touring?” Well, at 88, he’s not just still on the road but sharing the stage with his wife of nearly 50 years, singer Lani Hall. Dude outsold the Beatles in 1966 (along with his Tijuana Brass), founded powerhouse independent label A&M Records, and supplied the beat that Puff sampled for Biggie’s “Hypnotize.” That’s not nothing. (RACKET)