Career Path Surprises: What Herb Alpert Can Teach Us
I had the joy this month of attending a concert by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. It’s a national tour that celebrates his 90th birthday and the 60th anniversary of the 1965 #1 hit album Whipped Cream. What I thought I wanted to write about was his sharing that when his 98-year-old sister asked “why in the world are you doing this”, he answered “it gives me energy.” Does YOUR work give you energy? What can you do to give yourself energy in general? For me, a big thing is dancing, so it’s been fun to enjoy dancing to A Taste of Honey again, like I did in my childhood game room.
Then I realized that so much about what Herb Alpert shared and what I additionally learned about him had the theme of SURPRISES. As a career counselor who helps people with career “planning,” it was a nice reminder that you just never really know. We can try to plan for the future, but sometimes life just unfolds.
Here are a few surprises and reflective insights:
-Just before the concert, I read that he is Jewish! How interesting that he picked up the trumpet at 8, fell in love with the music at bullfights in Mexico, and then introduced Latin-inspired music to the American public. REFLECTION: Anything is possible!
-He helped launch grammy-winner Brazilian musician Sergio Mendez through his company A&M Records in 1966. REFLECTION: Support others and authenticity.
-As a record producer, he turned down the eventual number one hit Louie, Louie. REFLECTION: Sometimes we make mistakes.
-His big breakthrough was the song Whipped Cream that trumpeter and band leader Al Hirt turned down. By the end of 1965 it was the best-selling album in the US, surpassing the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra. REFLECTION: What is a good (career) fit for one person may not be good for another. And sometimes we get lucky.
-A Taste of Honey which won four Grammys in 1965 was actually Side B of the original record. Herb Alpert convinced business partner Jerry Moss (who thought it was undanceable) to promote it based on audience reaction. REFLECTION: Listen to others, trust your instinct, and advocate for what you believe.
-I didn’t realize the beautiful abstract art slides during the concert were painted by him. He was a painter and sculptor since 1969, exhibiting in US, Europe and Asia. REFLECTION: We can move forward with talents in multiple directions. Honor where you are drawn to.
-Herb Alpert and his partner sold their A&M label to Polygram in 1990 for $500 million. He created the Herb Alpert Foundation that focuses on the Arts as well as Compassion and Well-being. REFLECTION: Main earnings may or may not come from core passion.
-While looking him up on-line, one of the suggested searches was inquiring about his “mental breakdown.” Indeed, it was the fall of 1969 when he had a dramatic moment of witnessing his unhappiness during a performance. It even affected his musicianship, and he entered many years of therapy.
In an interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Alpert said:
“Nothing was more important to me than finding my path, finding why I’m here: ‘What’s my mission in life?’ It was not just to be a celebrity or a guy who sold a lot of records. I did that, and it was nice, but it wasn’t going to be my salvation. I was looking for my reason for being. I was willing to throw my horn into the ocean if that’s what it took to find out. It was a long and winding road. It took years before I felt like I used to feel.”
REFLECTION: Nothing is more important than one’s mental health and self-awareness.
As a self-described introvert, he is frequently referred to as kind and prizing unfettered imagination and heartfelt sentiment. I experienced him as unassuming and authentic. How would YOU like to be remembered?
Image through through Creative Commons through Expose
