Al Bernard

Al Bernard, year unknown

Alfred A. "Al" Bernard (born November 23, 1888 in New Orleans , Louisiana , † March 6, 1949 in New York City ) was an American vaudeville singer, old-time musician and comedian . Bernard recorded a number of songs that are now considered to be groundbreaking in music history. He was also known as "The Boy from Dixie".

Life

Childhood and youth

Al Bernard was born in New Orleans in 1888, possibly as early as 1887. Bernard's parents were Alfred and Katharine Bernard. He went to school at St. Francis School and later attended Jesuit College. Bernard also had a brother, Joseph E. Bernard, who later also became an entertainer.

successes

Before Bernard recorded records, he traveled around with minstrel and vaudeville shows. At this time he also began to appear as a "blackface comedian", a form of entertainment that is now considered politically incorrect. In early 1919, Bernard made his first recordings for Emerson Records . Among his first recordings was the St. Louis Blues , written by WC Handy . This title is considered to be one of the first recorded blues songs in history and has had a huge impact on the music industry. Bernard recorded the song for a total of eight different labels. His first record was released on Vocalion Records in May and more followed in the same year, including Bluin 'The Blues , Don't Cry, Frenchy, Don't Cry , Shake, Rattle and Roll and I Want To Hold You In My Arms , which were all recorded with the Novelty Five.

In February 1919, Bernard began his longstanding work at Edison Records with the recording of the hesitation blues . In addition to Edison, Bernard also worked for Emerson, Vocalion, Okeh Records and Gennett Records . Over the next few years, Bernard recorded other songs for various labels, often in different versions. He recorded the St. Louis Blues countless times, for example in 1920 and the following year with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band . WC Handy wrote in his autobiography that Bernard was instrumental in popularizing the song and in cellphone's career. His most successful song, however, was a duet with Ernest Hare in 1919, I Want to Hold You in My Arms . With Hare he repeatedly played duets for Regal and Pathé Records , with Bernard taking on the female role. Bernard was also the first singer to successfully record the folk song Frankie and Johnny . The song first appeared on Brunswick Records .

Sheet music cover for Read 'Em and Weep

Bernard began working with Victor Records in May 1920 and became a sought-after duet partner over the next few years. Not only with Ernest Hare, but also with Bennie Krueger, J. Russel Robinson (as The Dixie Stars ) and Frank Ferera . Bernard was also known as a songwriter, songs such as Read 'Em and Weep , Spread Yo' Stuff , Stavin 'Change and Papa String Bean are entirely or partly from his pen.

From 1925, Bernard often worked with the old-time musician Vernon Dalhart and also recorded a number of old folk and hillbilly songs under his own name such as Little Brown Jug , New River Train , Cowboy's Lament , O Dem Golden Slippers or Casey Jones . Sometimes songs by more authentic musicians were pressed on his hillbilly records, such as a Gray Gull Records record ; on the B-side Yodelin 'Bill by Gene Autry (under the pseudonym "Sam Hill") appeared. His version of the Hesitation Blues , published in 1930, along with the Goofus Five, is considered to be groundbreaking for western swing .

Later career

Bernard made records well into the 1940s, but with far less success than in the 1920s. In 1919 he married Gertrude Anderson, with whom he now lived in Manhattan . Al Bernard died in St. Clare's Hospital in 1949 and was buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. He left two daughters and a work from countless records of various genres.

literature

• Tim Gracyk: Popular American Recording Pioneers, 1895-1925 . Haworth Press, New York 2000, ISBN 1-56024-993-5 .

Web links

Commons : Al Bernard  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Entry in the All Music Guide
• Al Bernard on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)