Herfurt was born in Cincinnati and raised in Denver and played in bands while attending the University of Colorado.
After the war, he flourished as a studio musician in Hollywood, led his own band, and performed with Benny Goodman from 1946 to 1947 and Earle Spencer in 1946.
His studio credits, into the 1960s, include sessions with Billy May, Louis Armstrong, Georgie Auld, Jack Teagarden, and Stan Kenton.
End of the 1960s he joined the Ray Conniff orchestra for several tours (a. o. Japan and Germany) and recording sessions during the 1970s.
Herfurt was a member of Lawrence Welk's orchestra and weekly television show from 1979 to 1982, performing on lead alto saxophone.