Herb Rooney

{{Short description|American record producer (c. 1940–1990s)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Herb Rooney

| image = The Exciters.jpg

| caption = Rooney (front) as part of The Exciters in 1964

| birth_name = Herbert Louis Rooney

| alias = Herb Rooney

| birth_date = 1940{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/herb-rooney-mn0002067498|title=Herb Rooney|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=May 20, 2013}}

| death_date = February 16th, 1991

| origin = New York City, U.S.

| genre =

| occupation = Record producer, songwriter, bass singer

| years_active =

| associated_acts = The Exciters, Melvin Bliss

| website=

| spouse = Barbara Rooney

}}

Herbert Louis Rooney (born 1940 - February 16, 1991){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Herb+Rooney|title=Herb Rooney|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=May 20, 2013}} was an American record producer who was responsible for writing, producing and singing bass{{cite book|title=American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today|url=https://archive.org/details/americansingingg00warn|url-access=registration|last=Warner|first=Jay|year=2006 |isbn=9780634099786 }} on songs by the Exciters and for writing{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Melvin-Bliss-Reward-Synthetic-Substitution/master/243114|title=Melvin Bliss – Reward / Synthetic Substitution|publisher=Discogs}} and producing{{cite web|url=http://geniusrap.com/hip-hop-samples/melvin-bliss-synthetic-substitution.html|title="Synthetic Substitution" ~ Melvin Bliss|publisher=GeniusRap.com|accessdate=May 14, 2013}} the sample staple Synthetic Substitution by Melvin Bliss.

Between 1964 and the mid-1980s at time of his death Herb Rooney was married to Barbara Rooney.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-exciters-mn0000759443|title=The Exciters|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=May 20, 2013}} They married in 1959 and had 3 children. He also had 4 children by lead singer Brenda Reid, one son, Cory Rooney, who played keyboard for Herb and Brenda when touring and 3 daughters{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/nyregion/14artsli.html?_r=0|title=For Cory Rooney, Songwriting Replaced Performing|work=New York Times|date=November 13, 2010 |accessdate=June 1, 2013|last1=Fischler |first1=Marcelle S. }} and produced for Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez,{{cite web|url=http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/rooney.htm|title=Cory Rooney Writes & Produces Top Hits for Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony & Destiny's Child|last=Kawashima|first=Dale|publisher=Songwriter Universe Magazine|accessdate=February 7, 2010}} Marc Anthony, Thalia, Destiny's Child, and many more.

Post-The Exciters saw Rooney running his own cosmetics firm. He died in the early 1990s.{{Cite book|title=Girl group: fabulous females that rocked the world|last=Clemente|first=John|year=2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yd8TAQAAIAAJ|isbn=978-0-87341-816-4}}