Herb Wong

Herbert H. Wong (March 18, 1926 – April 20, 2014) was an American jazz enthusiast, educator, writer, producer, disc jockey and zoologist.

Wong became interested in jazz music as a child and had his first experience broadcasting while serving in the armed forces. He trained as an educator and zoologist and worked in schools throughout his career. Wong promoted jazz in various ways including writing about jazz, teaching jazz history courses, designing jazz education curriculums, arranging jazz concerts in schools and hosting a radio show for over three decades. In the 1980s, Wong produced music for the Palo Alto and Blackhawk records labels. Such was his reputation, Woody Herman and Cal Tjader, amongst others, composed songs dedicated to him.

Life

Early life and education Wong was born in Oakland, California, in 1926 and grew up in Stockton. In an interview for the Regional Oral History Office, Wong explained that he was a fourth-generation Californian from a Chinese-American family that included his uncle, architect Worley K. Wong. At age six, Wong began studying classical piano. He was first exposed to jazz music around aged 11 when he and his brother found a delivery of jazz albums, including recordings by Duke Ellington and Woody Herman, in their home that was meant for the previous residents.

For 25 years, Wong taught jazz history at the Palo Alto Adult School and was the artistic director and co-founder of the Palo Alto Jazz Alliance, a not-for-profit jazz education group. He also founded Blackhawk Records and produced several albums for both labels.

Later in his career, Wong organised a jazz concert series at Stanford Shopping Center and was president of the International Association of Jazz Education. He received the Palo Alto Excellence Award in Jazz Education in 2013.

Seven jazz compositions were written about Wong, including: Woody Herman's "Dr. Wong's Bag"; Cal Tjader's "Daddy Wong Legs"; Larry Vuckovich's "Herb's Herbs"; and Dayna Stephens's "Dr. Wong's Bird Song".

Works Jazz on My Mind: Liner Notes, Anecdotes and Conversations from the 1940s to the 2000s, with Paul Simeon Fingerote (2016, McFarland & Co Inc.; )