School of the Arts and Architecture presents first UCLA Arts Award to Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert, music legend and philanthropist, will receive the first UCLA Arts Award in recognition of his accomplishments in music and his contributions to the arts and music at UCLA. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) and will be presented at the school’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 16.

 

The UCLA Arts Award is given to community members who have made significant contributions in the field of the arts and play an active role in supporting the arts at UCLA. The current award, an original acrylic sculpture, is the first of a series designed by renowned artist and esteemed UCLA Design | Media Arts Professor Vasa Mihich. His works are included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg, Germany, and numerous others throughout the world.

 

As a legendary trumpet player and songwriter, Alpert had five No. 1 hits, eight Grammy awards, 15 gold albums and 14 platinum albums; selling more than 72 million records. His name is synonymous with a distinctly relaxed instrument style and an immediately recognizable group sound. "The Lonely Bull," "A Taste of Honey," "This Guy’s in Love with You," and "Rise" are just a few of the memorable songs recorded by Alpert during his more than 50 years in the industry.

 

He continues to perform with his wife, Grammy Award-winning singer Lani Hall, and oversees the Vibrato Grill, a restaurant and jazz club in Bel Air. The Alperts’ ongoing philanthropy has garnered a host of awards, and for over two decades, the Herb Alpert Foundation has underwritten funding in the areas of the arts and arts education.