BIOGRAPHY

Herbert King was born and educated in Savannah. Herb recalled being "fascinated" with the drums when he was "four or five" years old and he began formal study of the drums when he was thirteen years old. Since that time he has become one of the finest percussionists produced in Savannah. He credits Sam Gill, a local educator, bandleader, and also a member of the Coastal Jazz Association Hall of Fame, with giving him the opportunity to play the drums at Thompkins Middle School. After graduating from high school, Herbert settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he attended the New England Conservatory of Music. Herb was inducted into the Coastal Jazz Association of Savannah Hall of Fame in 1993.

Herb led jazz ensembles and played with just about every major jazz artist in New England during his career. His collaborations included extensive work with the late Bobby Greene and numerous performances with vocalist Semenya McCord as well as with Dave Zinno, George Russell Jr., Frank Wilkins, Wesley Wirth, Stan Strickland, Armstead Christian, John Harrison, Rick Britto, Marcelle Gauvin, Bobby Tines, Candida Rose, Wannetta Jackson, and hundreds of others.

In addition to his busy performance schedule, Herb taught drums privately and at Tufts University in Boston, influencing a great number of young drummers. Herb's musical collaboration with Semenya McCord brought their joy of jazz music into schools throughout Massachusetts presenting hundreds of dynamic and effective programs through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the New England School Performing Artists.

(Thanks to The Coastal Jazz Association of Savannah for some of the information in the article above)