Herbie Lovelle facts for kids

Herbie Lovelle (born June 1, 1924 – died April 8, 2009) was an amazing American musician. He was a talented drummer who played many kinds of music, like jazz, R&B, rock, and folk music. Besides playing drums, he was also a studio musician (someone who plays on recordings for different artists) and even an actor!

Herbie's Musical Journey

Herbie Lovelle came from a musical family; his uncle, Arthur Herbert, was also a drummer. Herbie started his music career in the late 1940s, playing with the trumpeter and singer Hot Lips Page.

Playing at the Savoy Ballroom

In the 1950s, Herbie played with famous musicians like saxophonist Hal Singer and pianist Earl Hines. He became the main drummer, known as the "house drummer," at the famous Savoy Ballroom in New York City for many years. This was a very popular place where people went to dance and listen to great music. He also toured with other musicians like Arnett Cobb and Teddy Wilson.

Playing for TV Shows

In the early days of television, Herbie Lovelle played with the King Guion Orchestra on popular shows like the Jerry Lester Show and the Ed Sullivan Show. Later, in 1966, he was the lead drummer for the TV show hosted by the famous entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr..

A Busy Studio Musician

Herbie Lovelle became a very busy studio musician, which means he played drums on recordings for many different artists. He helped create the sound for albums by some really famous people, including Bob Dylan (on his album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan), B.B. King, John Denver, and even The Monkees! He continued working as a studio musician for a long time, even into the 1980s.

Producing and Broadway

In 1976, Herbie Lovelle also worked as a producer. He produced the first album for a band called Stuff, which became very popular in Japan. That same year, he played drums in a new version of the famous Broadway musical Guys and Dolls.

Herbie's Acting Career

From the 1980s onwards, Herbie Lovelle started acting in movies and on television. He appeared in many TV shows and films.

TV Appearances

One of his most well-known TV roles was on the popular show Law & Order, where he appeared in episodes between 1995 and 2004. He also had roles in other TV shows like Third Watch.

Movie Roles

Herbie Lovelle acted in several movies. Some of his film credits include Bella (2006), The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001), Down to Earth (2001), and Girlfight (2000).

Discography

Herbie Lovelle played on many, many albums throughout his career. Here are some of the artists he recorded with:

With Eric Andersen

• 'Bout Changes 'n' Things Take 2 (Vanguard, 1967)
• Avalanche (Warner Bros., 1968)
• More Hits from Tin Can Alley (Vanguard, 1968)

With Solomon Burke

• I Wish I Knew (Atlantic, 1968)
• King Solomon (Atlantic, 1968)

With Cándido Camero

• Thousand Finger Man (Solid State, 1970)
• Beautiful (Blue Note, 1971)

With Buck Clayton

• Jazz Gallery (Philips, 1959)
• Copenhagen Concert (SteepleChase, 1979)

With John Denver

• Rhymes & Reasons (RCA Records, 1969)
• Take Me to Tomorrow (RCA Victor, 1970)
• Farewell Andromeda (RCA Victor, 1973)
• Rocky Mountain Christmas (RCA Records, 1975)

With Art Farmer

• Art Farmer Plays (Prestige, 1955)
• Early Art (New Jazz, 1961)
• Farmer's Market (Prestige, 1973)

With Lightning Hopkins

• Goin' Away (Prestige, 1963)
• Soul Blues (Prestige, 1965)
• Down Home Blues (Prestige, 1965)

With B.B. King

• Completely Well (Bluesway, 1969)
• Indianola Mississippi Seeds (ABC, 1970)

With Herbie Mann

• The Herbie Mann String Album (Atlantic, 1967)
• Glory of Love (CTI, 1967)

With Sonny Stitt

• Soul Shack (Prestige, 1963)
• Primitivo Soul (Prestige, 1964)

With Rufus Thomas

• Crown the Prince of Dance (Stax, 1973)

With others

• Nat Adderley, Sayin' Somethin' (Atlantic, 1966)
• Tony Bennett, My Heart Sings (Columbia, 1961)
• Emmett Berry, Beauty and The Blues (Columbia, 1960)
• David Blue, David Blue (Elektra, 1966)
• Terence Boylan, Alias Boona (Verve Forecast, 1969)
• Ruth Brown, Black Is Brown and Brown Is Beautiful (Skye, 1969)
• Rusty Bryant, Rusty Bryant Returns (Prestige, 1969)
• Fats Domino, Fats Is Back (Reprise, 1968)
• Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Columbia, 1963)
• Dave Frishberg, Oklahoma Toad (CTI, 1970)
• Slim Gaillard, Mish Mash (Mercury, 1953)
• Erroll Garner, That's My Kick (MGM, 1967)
• Leonard Gaskin, At the Jazz Band Ball (Swingville, 1962)
• Lotti Golden, Motor-Cycle (Atlantic, 1969)
• Johnny Hodges, Blue Pyramid (Verve, 1966)
• Red Holloway, The Burner (Prestige, 1964)
• Richard "Groove" Holmes, That Healin' Feelin' (Prestige, 1968)
• Illinois Jacquet, Spectrum (Argo, 1965)
• Eddie Jefferson, Joe Carroll, Annie Ross, The Bebop Singers (Prestige, 1970)
• Big Joe Turner, Singing the Blues (BluesWay, 1967)
• Budd Johnson, Budd Johnson and the Four Brass Giants (Riverside, 1960)
• Gordon Lightfoot, Did She Mention My Name? (United Artists, 1968)
• Wade Marcus, A New Era (Cotillion, 1971)
• John Martyn and Beverley Martyn, Stormbringer! (Island, 1970)
• Percy Mayfield, Blues and Then Some (RCA Victor, 1971)
• The Monkees, Listen to the Band (Rhino, 1991)
• Melba Moore, This Is It (Buddah, 1976)
• Van Morrison, T.B. Sheets (Bang, 1973)
• Chico O'Farrill, Married Well (Verve, 1967)
• Chuck Rainey, The Chuck Rainey Coalition (Skye, 1972)
• Tom Rapp, Beautiful Lies You Could Live In (Reprise, 1971)
• Tom Rush, The Circle Game (Elektra, 1968)
• Tom Rush, Tom Rush (Columbia, 1970)
• Evie Sands, Any Way That You Want Me (Rev-Ola, 1970)
• Marlena Shaw, From the Depths of My Soul (Blue Note, 1973)
• Ian & Sylvia, Ian & Sylvia (Columbia, 1971)
• Buddy Tate, Swinging Like Tate (Felsted, 1958)
• Leon Thomas, Full Circle (Flying Dutchman, 1973)
• Muddy Waters, The London Muddy Waters Sessions (Chess, 1972)
• Dicky Wells, Trombone Four-in-Hand (Felsted, 1959)
• Ernie Wilkins, Screaming Mothers (Mainstream, 1974)
• Jimmy Witherspoon, Blues Around the Clock (Prestige, 1964)