50 FAMOUS IU ALUMNI A-B

Trigger Alpert David Anspaugh Musician TV & Movie Director

Jazz bassist Herman “Trigger” Born and raised in Decatur, Indiana, Alpert was born in 1916 in David Anspaugh studied secondary Indianapolis and studied music at education at IU, and shot 16 mm films IU in the 1930s. Asked to join the of Vietnam War protests, live music, Orchestra in 1940, and sporting events in his free time. he appeared with the band in the He later attended film school at the filmSun Valley Serenade the next University of Southern California year. He played with Miller until and began a career producing and being drafted in 1941. When Miller directing several of the 1980s’ most volunteered in 1942, he selected illustrious television shows, including Alpert as a member of his all-star Hill Street (for which he won Army Air Force Band. The two two Primetime Emmy Awards), St. remained friends until Miller’s Elsewhere, and Miami Vice. death in 1944. His big screen directing debut Alpert went on to work with was the film Hoosiers (written by , , his closest friend at IU, Angelo , , Pizzo—see Page 88.), followed by , and others. In several others, including Rudy and 1956, he recorded his only album Moonlight and Valentino. as a leader: Trigger Happy! He left Anspaugh moved back to the music business in 1970. Alpert Bloomington in 2014, where he died in 2013 at the age of 97. —C.S. has taught at IU and directed and acted in plays with the Bloomington Playwrights Project. —T.Z.T.

Courtesy photo Photo by Tom Stio

Kenny Aronoff Howard Ashman Drummer Theater Genius

While he is best known for the Lyricist, writer, director, and producer 17 years he spent as the concert Howard Ashman earned an M.F.A. and studio drummer for John from IU in 1974. One of his early Mellencamp, Kenny Aronoff has theater collaborations with lifelong shared the stage with a huge roster professional partner Alan Menken was of pop and rock icons, including 1982’s Little Shop of Horrors, which Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Bruce Ashman later turned into a screenplay. Springsteen, John Fogerty, and Ashman and Menken were pivotal Johnny Cash. in the “Disney Renaissance” era, Born and raised in Massachusetts, beginning with The Little Mermaid in Aronoff came to IU to study classical 1989 and continuing with Beauty and music in the mid-1970s, then turned the Beast and Aladdin. Among their his focus toward jazz and fusion for many awards, they earned Oscars for a handful of years before auditioning Best Original Song in 1986 (Little Shop for Mellencamp. of Horrors), 1989 (The Little Mermaid), In addition to playing and and 1991 (Beauty and the Beast). recording, Aronoff taught percussion Returning to IU in 1987 to present at the IU School of Music as an a Collins Lecture, Ashman attended an associate professor in the 1990s. IU Theatre performance of Little Shop Now 68, he continues to perform of Horrors. IU was the first university as a musician and motivational granted permission to stage the speaker. He recently released an musical, thanks to Ashman. autobiography called Sex, Drums, Ashman died of complications from Rock ‘n’ Roll. —T.Z.T. AIDS in 1991, at age 40, shortly before the release of Beauty and the Beast. Howard, Don Hahn’s 2018 documentary Photo by Shannon Zahnle on Howard Ashman’s life is now Photo courtesy of IU Archives streaming on Disney+. —C.S. 78 Bloom | August/September 2021 | magbloom.com 50 FAMOUS IU ALUMNI A-B

David Baker Jazz Educator

Born in Indianapolis, jazz musician David Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from IU in 1953 and a master’s degree the following year. Originally a trombonist, he switched to the cello after sustaining jaw injuries in a car accident. An IU School of Music faculty member beginning in 1966, Baker founded IU’s jazz studies program in 1968, one of the first at an American university. He served as its chair until 2013. Baker’s body of work includes more than 65 recordings, 70 books, and 400 articles. Among his many accolades, Baker was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2000 and a Living Jazz Legend by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2007. He died in 2016 at the age of 84. —C.S.

Photo by James Brosher/IU Cinema Photo by Steve Raymer and IU Studios

Jonathan Banks Brady Barr Actor Herpetologist Jonathan Banks, best known for portraying Mike Ehrmantraut on Of the more than 100 wildlife Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has documentaries he has hosted for strong ties to IU. His grandfather was a National Geographic television, Monroe County farmer and stonecutter Brady Barr is best known for who helped lay the foundation for his seven-season stint hosting Franklin Hall, and his mother and Dangerous Encounters with daughters all earned IU degrees. Banks Brady Barr. studied theater at IU in the 1960s, Barr grew up in Bloomington and appearing in The Threepenny Opera graduated from Bloomington High with future Academy Award winner School South. He earned a B.S. in Kevin Kline. education at IU in 1987, then taught With more than 50 movies and 70 high school science in Indianapolis television shows to his credit, Banks has before receiving a master’s degree in six Emmy nominations for Outstanding 1994 and a Ph.D. in biology in 1997 Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for from University of Miami. Wiseguy (1989), Breaking Bad (2013), Barr was the first known and Better Call Saul (2015–17 and 2019). herpetologist—someone who He is the only actor with nominations in studies reptiles and amphibians—to this category for three different shows, have captured, studied, and released two of which are for the same character. all 23 extant species of crocodilians —C.S. in his career. He authored a children’s book about crocodiles and citizen science, appeared numerous times on , and in 2017 received the IU School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award. —R.M. Courtesy photo Photo courtesy

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