You all know my love for music. In fact, I would venture to say that music to me is just like air. I am always on the lookout for concerts in my area that I can attend.

A few weeks ago, I was at Rod Stewart, and last week, I had the honor and the privilege to attend a concert of Herb Alpert. Now, many of you may not know of Herb Alpert. If you know of Herb Alpert, then you know of his impact on the music industry. If you don’t, stay tuned. I’ve known Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass for many years growing up. In fact, I have two of his vinyl records. And last week, I had the honor of attending and seeing Herb Alpert in concert. And it wasn’t just a show. It was, how shall I say it, a master class in staying relevant. Here he is, 91 years old, still on stage, still playing his trumpet, and it’s so inspiring to see him still having fun. And as he said it during the concert, he is enjoying himself so much being in New Haven, Connecticut. Early in his career,

Herb felt pushed around, so to speak, by the executives of record companies. He and Jerry Moss started A&M Records. “A” for Alpert, “M” for Moss. Their philosophy was simple: If we like what we hear, we record it. No board meeting, no focus group. Just gut instinct. They gave the Carpenters their first record, so too Peter Frampton and Burt Bacharach, and many, many more. They weren’t looking for a product to sell; they were looking for a voice. And they found many. What really strikes me and hit me during the performance is that Herb Alpert never stopped creating.

He’s 91 now, but he still plays with the fire of a 20-year-old. When he isn’t playing, he is a world-class painter and sculptor. You’ve probably walked past his bronze sculptures in public gardens across California without even realizing they came from the same hands that gave us “A Taste of Honey.” Over a year ago, I watched a documentary about the life of Herb Alpert. What sticks with me is what he does with the proceeds from the sale of A&M Records.

He became one of the most generous philanthropists in the arts, funding places like the Harlem School of the Arts, giving kids that have nothing a chance to have their own voice. And as I mentioned, he donated sculptures to many gardens in California. I was totally mesmerized during the concert. In fact, I couldn’t sit still. I had to stand up and watch and clap and just look in admiration at the legend. In fact, as he said, he doesn’t need the proceeds from the concert. all proceeds are being donated, and he has been on a tour for, now, a couple of months. As I watched him on stage, conducting his incredible, talented musicians, I realized that Herb Alpert is not just an artist; he is an inspirational example to all of us.

He built his own company, his own domain, his own success, without having to sell his soul. And then, as gratitude for his success, he became a generous philanthropist. Yes, he did not change just the music industry; he changed the lives of many, many children that never had an opportunity to learn music. Throughout this evening’s East-to-West program, I’m going to weave in and out some of the best tracks of Herb Alpert. But stay tuned, because tonight’s program is not just about Herb Alpert. I got some new stuff from Paul McCartney, some old stuff, and of course, it’s all world music.