Born and raised in Los Angeles, Herb Geller began playing the alto saxophone at age 8. His best friend in high school was Eric Dolphy, and both were in the marching band together—Herb on clarinet and Dolphy on oboe. Herb’s idols were Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges. [Photo above of Herb Geller in the 1950s]
Herb joined the musicians union in 1944 at age 1…