Draft:Herb Partlow

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Herb Partlow
Birth nameHerbert F. Partlow
Born (1961-07-23) July 23, 1961 (age 64)
Charleston, South Carolina, US
OriginSan Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, businessman
Instrument(s)Keyboards, bass, drums
Years active1980s–present
LabelsSuperb Muzic
Websitehttps://superbmuzic.com

Herb Partlow (born July 23, 1961) is an American music producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Charleston, South Carolina.[1] His single Paradigm Shift, from the album Next Level, reached No. 3 on the SmoothJazz.com chart in January 2021.[1] His work has been profiled by Charleston City Paper, and SoulTracks has premiered several of his recordings, including Jazz Theory (2014), Next Level (2020), and Ride or Die (2023).[2][3][4]

His songs have found a large international audience through radio airplay. Partlow's song "Jazz Theory" has appeared consistently on JazzBites Contemporary Radio’s (London, UK) "Top 10" list, a playlist that also includes works by well-known jazz artists. He has also been played on radio outlets in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Bulgaria, Hungary, St. Lucia, Italy, Germany, and Venezuela.[5][6]

In the mid 1980s, Partlow recorded hip-hop material released through Macola Records and later moved into production and engineering.[1] Prior to his full-time music career, Partlow worked in corporate and professional roles in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 2007, he formed his own record label "Superb Muzic." Partlow has released jazz and funk-oriented projects since the early 2010s, including the EP Urban Jazz (2011), Digital Future (2015),[7] the Future Jazz EP (2018),[8] Next Level (2020), and the re-mastered and re-issued Next Level 2025 (2025).[9]

Outside of music, Partlow served in civic leadership roles in Charleston, including chair of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston. He has also been a board member of the YMCA of Greater Charleston and the Roper St. Francis Foundation.[10][11]

Career

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Music

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Partlow has been in the music industry for four decades in numerous roles.[1] His style blends contemporary jazz, funk, and hip hop influences. In 2021, the Charleston City Paper profiled his independent approach and noted the chart success of Paradigm Shift on smoothjazz.com.[1]

He has been featured in music publications over the course of his career. He was part of a Billboard magazine article dated February 1, 2003 titled "In Bay Area, R&B/Hip-Hop Scene Ready For Resurgence." As a long time Bay Area music producer, Partlow was featured with other up and coming Bay Area artists and producers.[12] He hosted the article's author, Gail Mitchell and gave her a "blueprint" of the Bay Area's indie music scene at that time. He is quoted in the article along with artists such as Ledisi and Goapele.

He was also featured in The Jazz In M.E.E. Magazine October 2013 issue, sharing his industry insights[13], and in the October 2015 issue, sharing his expertise on mixing and mastering.[14] He was also featured in a Quintin’s Close-Ups interview discussing his roles as a composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and businessman in 2022.[15]

SoulTracks, a leading online R&B/soul publication, has reviewed several of his singles, including Jazz Theory in 2014, describing it as a funk-driven track featuring soprano saxophonist J. L. P.[16] In April 2020, SoulTracks premiered the title track from Next Level, highlighting Partlow’s work as a producer and multi-instrumentalist.[17] In June 2023, the outlet premiered his funk single Ride or Die featuring X Factor USA finalist Tora Woloshin.[18]

Corporate and professional work

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Before returning to Charleston in 2013, Partlow had a career in the corporate sector in the San Francisco Bay Area. He worked for firms such as KPMG, Arthur Andersen, and Deloitte, and held positions at Bank of America, the Federal Reserve Bank, and LECG over a 30-year career.[19] In 2013, he returned to Charleston and established H. F. Partlow Web Development, LLC. He also serves as the Public Relations Director and Webmaster for BDG-CPAs, with offices in New York and Charleston.[20]

Community and public service

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Partlow served as Chairman of the Charleston Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners,[11] appearing in local news coverage and agency materials discussing redevelopment initiatives in 2023–2025.[21] [22] [23] He was also featured in a Quintin’s Close-Ups interview as board chair in 2024.[24]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Label
2015 Digital Future Superb Muzic[7]
2018 Future Jazz EP Superb Muzic[25][8]
2020 / 2025 Next Level / Next Level 2025 Superb Muzic[26]
2024 Instrumental Beatz N' Thangz EP Superb Muzic[27]

Selected singles

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Year Single Notes
2015 Jazz Theory Featuring J. L. P.[28]
2018 Drop It! Featuring Allen Webb, Ricardo Love[29]
2018 Funky Jazz Featuring J. L. P.[30]
2018 Another Interlude Featuring J.L.P.[31]
2020 Paradigm Shift Featuring Ricardo Love, DeLon Charley [1]
2020 Next Level Featuring Ricardo Love, DeLon Charley[1]
2023 Artificial Intelligence Featuring Big Mack, Stico, Rajime, Jay AL[32]
2023 Ride or Die Featuring Tora Woloshin[33]
2023 Renaissance Man Featuring DeLon Charley[34]
2025 Money Moves Featuring Lil' Jin & Lukas Swing[35][36]
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Category:American jazz musicians Category:American record producers Category:American multi-instrumentalists Category:Living people Category:People from Charleston, South Carolina

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Harris, Vincent (January 27, 2021). "Herb Partlow has built a successful smooth-jazz career right under our noses". Charleston City Paper.
  2. ^ "First Listen: Herb Partlow - "Jazz Theory"". SoulTracks. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  3. ^ "First Listen: Herb Partlow - "Next Level"". SoulTracks. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  4. ^ "First Listen: Herb Partlow feat. Tora Woloshin - "Ride or Die"". SoulTracks. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Herb Partlow - TOP songs playing now on the radio". OnlineRadioBox.com. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  6. ^ "SmoothJazz.COM: Playlist Archive - 12.07.2019". Oles.TV. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Digital Future by Herb Partlow on Apple Music". Apple Music. October 6, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Future Jazz - Herb Partlow | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 2025-09-01
  9. ^ Next Level 2025 by Herb Partlow on Apple Music, 2020-08-03, retrieved 2025-09-02
  10. ^ "Herb Partlow". BDG-CPAs. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Partlow, Herbert F. (January 11, 2022). "Commentary: Charleston Housing Authority's CEO and board are prepared to lead". Post and Courier. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  12. ^ Mitchell, Gail (February 1, 2003). "In Bay Area, RiB/Hip-Hop Scene Ready For Resurgence" (PDF). Billboard Magazine.
  13. ^ "THE JAZZ IN M.E.E. MAGAZINE Issue 4 October 2013". Issuu. October 7, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  14. ^ "THE JAZZ IN M.E.E. MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2015 Issue 12 TEASER". Issuu. 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  15. ^ Sinner, Holy City (2022-01-28). "Quintin's Close-Ups: Herb Partlow". Holy City Sinner. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  16. ^ "First Listen: Herb Partlow shares his "Jazz Theory" in hot new song". SoulTracks. September 5, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  17. ^ "First Listen: Herb Partlow takes us to the "Next Level"". SoulTracks. April 9, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  18. ^ "First Listen: Herb Partlow and Tora Woloshin are ready to "Ride Or Die"". SoulTracks. June 21, 2023.
  19. ^ "Herb Partlow LinkedIn Profile".
  20. ^ "Herb Partlow". BDG-CPAs. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  21. ^ McBride, Molly (2023-12-28). "Housing Authority gives update on plan to redevelop, renovate all public housing". Live 5 News. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  22. ^ "Charleston Housing Authority reconstructing and redeveloping public housing units". WCBD News 2. 2024-01-04.
  23. ^ Partlow, Herb (June 28, 2024). "Letter In Support of Housing Authority Set-Aside" (PDF). S.C. Housing 2025 QAP Comments.
  24. ^ "Quintin's Close-Ups: Herb Partlow". Holy City Sinner. June 22, 2024.
  25. ^ "Herb Partlow Musician". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  26. ^ "Herb Partlow – Next Level". Smooth Jazz Daily. July 21, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  27. ^ "Instrumental Beatz N' Thangz - EP by Herb Partlow on Apple Music". Apple Music. November 15, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  28. ^ "First Listen: Herb Partlow shares his "Jazz Theory" in hot new song". SoulTracks. September 5, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  29. ^ "Herb Partlow Musician". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  30. ^ "Raptz". www.raptz.com. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  31. ^ Another Interlude by Herb Partlow on Apple Music, 2018-05-11, retrieved 2025-09-01
  32. ^ Artificial Intelligence (Club Mix) - Single [feat. Big Mack, Stico, Rajime & Jay Al] - Single by Herb Partlow on Apple Music, 2023-10-30, retrieved 2025-09-02
  33. ^ "Ride or Die - Single (feat. Tora Woloshin)". Apple Music. May 8, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  34. ^ "Renaissance Man - Single (feat. Delon Charley)". Apple Music. January 20, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  35. ^ "Money Moves (feat. Lil' Jin & Lukas Swing)". Apple Music. March 21, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  36. ^ "Herb Partlow drops an anthem of ambition with "Money Moves" feat. Lil' Jin [Review]". Zillions Magazine - Where Every Beat Counts. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2025-09-02.