The Man Behind The Tijuana Brass
Mexico is known for a lot of things - its music
, food, beautiful beaches and, to some, soccer. Two things that are inexorably tied with a culture is its music and food. The food of Mexico has always been popular, but it took the music a little while to get its due recognition. All that changed in the early 1960s when one man put his version of a particular style of Mexican music into the ears of the world.
Now, if a music can be synonymous with a country, then it can also be associated with garage sales. Herb Alpert's records sold in such amazing quantities that it is hard to go to a garage sale and not find at least one of his records. If one is a fan of Mariachi music, then Herb Alpert and the Tijuana brass is not likely to be an unfamiliar name. From today's perspective, it is hard to really grasp just what a phenomenon his music was. Herb Alpert ruled the American charts until the arrival of the fab four from Liverpool. Herb also created an incredibly successful record company - something which many people aren't aware of. The record company in question is none other than, A&M Records. And yes, the 'A' stands for, Alpert.
Herb Alpert came into the world on March, 31, 1935, in the city of Los Angeles. His career as a musician began at eight when he took to the trumpet, the instrument that defined him throughout his career. Although he was not born in Mexico, his take on Mariachi music became inseparable from its culture and really introduced the music to a world-wide audience. In some ways, one can look back on Herb's career and see him as the father of what is now know as, World Music, with his blend of pop and Mariachi. Over the course of his career, Herb has place 28 albums on the Billboard charts, sold over 72 million records, earned 15 gold records, 14 platinum records and scored five chart-topping hits. This was the final proof needed to consolidate his legacy.
The first album released by Herb to an unsuspecting public was his classic, The Lonely Bull. The listener is first introduced to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana brass through a wash a bullfighting cheers on the title track of the same name. Once the music kicks in one is immediately on a one way trip to Mexico. For those not wishing for the very visceral experience of a bullfight, this song will definitely do the trick. The cover is great and so fortunately is the music. A very cheery looking Herb is sitting sideways on an old wooden chair, fist raised to the sky, clasping a shot glass full of tequila. A mostly drained bottle of tequila, a lemon, salt and a knife make up the cover image and also his trusty horn, and a leather canteen. All the makings of a grand old time.
The definitive masterpiece of Herb Alpert's career, as well as his biggest selling and most identifiable album (by its cover alone), is the pop masterpiece known as, Whipped Cream and other Delights. While barely clocking in at twenty-eight minutes, this is twelve songs of pure pop mastery. The album is a veritable treasure of pop songs, that are simple yet tell a story. The public kept coming back for more of the tunes and perhaps it was their brevity that held an allure for them. What really made this album stand out from the rest of the albums of its era is the highly seductive cover. Featured on the album sleeve is the stunning, Dolores Erickson, wearing only a very seductive look and some carefully applied whipped cream. This is a must in any true audiophiles collection.
Not everyone loved Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass' music. In fact, some were very critical of it. The heaviest charges against it was that it diluted true Mexican Mariachi music. Others referred to to it as, "Ameriachi". It is safe to say that Herb never intended to cheapen the music, but to only add to it with his own personal inflections. Also, when one looks at his tremendous album sales it is safe to say that Mexican music, in general, wouldn't be as well know around the world without him
by: Robert Nickel
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