Arthur Herbert (born May 28, 1907, Brooklyn, New York) was an American jazz drummer.

Early life

Both of Herbert's parents were of Trinidadian heritage. He worked in a silver and gold refinery as a young man, playing local gigs in New York nightclubs and hotels in his spare time. He left industry in 1935 to join Eddie Williams's band, and soon after started his own band, the Rhythm Masters. In the 1930s and 1940s he worked as a sideman with musicians such as Pete Brown, Coleman Hawkins, Hot Lips Page and Sidney Bechet.

Arthur Herbert (musician)

In the 1950s Herbert went into semi-retirement as a musician and started up his own pest extermination business. He played in various swing jazz revival ensembles, and toured with Lem Johnson in Poland in the 1960s.

Arthur Herbert (musician)

Herbert taught his nephew, drummer Herb Lovelle, whom he insisted should know how to read sheet music, something black musicians were then not held to know. He got his nephew his first gig with Hot Lips Page. He also taught drummer Shelly Manne, according to Herb Lovelle.

Arthur Herbert (musician)

References

Eugene Chadbourne, [ Arthur Herbert] at Allmusic

Discogs.com, Arthur Herbert

1907 births

Year of death missing

Trinidad and Tobago expatriates in the United States

Musicians from Brooklyn

Jazz musicians from New York City

American jazz drummers