If the name isn't immediately familiar to you, it's probably down to the generation you were born in. Herb Alpert started off his career as a musician - he had trumpet lessons as a young child, and then performed the trumpet during his military service. After leaving the army, he started writing and producing jazz songs in the late 1950s. His album 'Whipped Cream and Other Delights' was a number one smash hit, and for a short while he was selling more records than the Beatles.
It was his record label that really brought the money in. Formed in 1962 with his friend Jerry Moss, A&M records grew slowly and steadily, and in the 80s made smart investments by signing Janet Jackson and Sheryl Crow early on in their careers. Eventually, PolyGram bought them out for $500m in 1989, and Alpert could have retired there and then. The fact that he didn't is just because he loves playing so much.