Music: Biography

• In 1977, eight years before Paul Simon’s Graceland album brought South African music into the pop mainstream, Alpert recorded a joyful duet album with a noted flugelhornist exiled from the embittered country. Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela melded township melodies with contemporary jazz and funk rhythms. Produced by another South African talent Caiphus Semenya, who later crafted The Lion King soundtrack, the duet album is typical of Alpert’s musical curiosity, and his compulsion to explore the funkier corners of the music world.

• In 1979, Alpert and A&M were caught in an industry downslide, and for a moment contemplated setting Tijuana Brass classics to a contemporary rhythm. “The moment I heard ‘The Lonely Bull’ with a disco beat, man I got nauseous. I knew that thing wasn’t going to work. But I had this band in the studio, and [percussionist] Randy [Badazz] and his friend had written this song called ‘Risa’, this guy’s wife at the time. But the written title looked like ‘Rise’ to me.” Loose, funky and infectious, “Rise” became a best-seller, saved A&M and – in slowing down the tempo of the tune’s infectious groove – led club dancers and DJs to do the same. Hip hop heavies like Sean “Puffy” Combs and Notorious B.I.G. liked what they heard; both made use of the track for their own recordings.