In 1973, he was hired by Allen Toussaint to play on the Labelle album Nightbirds; that set him up to play on a string of successful albums for some of the most prominent blues musicians of the time, including John Mayall and Richie Havens.

Of Ernest as a collaborator, Dr. John said "Whatever I put as a drum thing, Herman shifted all of that immediately.

He was much in demand as a studio drummer and spent the majority of his time recording, but he was very active in the New Orleans community.

He was a deputy sheriff for the New Orleans Police Department and dedicated time during Mardi Gras and Thanksgiving to ensure peace was kept throughout the city.

[1] Before his death, he challenged the New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation (NOMAF) to promote head and neck cancer awareness, prevention, and early detection in his community.