Gil Bernal (February 4, 1931 – July 17, 2011) was an American singer and session musician. His saxophone can be heard on recordings such as "Searchin'" by The Coasters. In the 1950s, he played on Duane Eddy's 1958 album Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel. In later years, he played on Warren Zevon's 2003 album The Wind and the Chávez Ravine album by Ry Cooder.
Gil Bernal | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 4, 1931 Watts, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 2011 (aged 80) Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock & roll, pop, R&B |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone Vocals |
| Labels | Spark Records, Amaret Records |
Background
editBernal was born on February 4, 1931, in Watts, Los Angeles. His father was Sicilian and his mother Mexican.[1]
Career
editAs well as a musician, Bernal was a singer in his own right. As singer he sang on his own singles, which included "Keep Those Wanderin' Eyes Off My Baby", "Tower of Strength" and "The Dogs".[2]
Early years to the 1950s
editBy the time he was in his teens, he was an accomplished singer and saxophonist. In the early days, he played at parties. In 1950, he ended up replacing a sax player whom Lionel Hampton had fired. Bernal then toured nationally with Hampton in a band that included Quincy Jones and Little Jimmy Scott.[3] In the period between 1954 and 1955, Bernal recorded under his own name. He recorded "Easyville" and "The Whip" for the Spark Records label. Two others he recorded for the label were "Strawberry Stomp" and "King Solomon's Mines". "The Whip" did receive some airplay and was used by Alan Freed as the opening theme for his late R&B show. He did some session work for the label, which included "Riot in Cell Block Number 9" by The Robins.[4][5] He played on Duane Eddy's 1958 hit "Rebel Rouser" and also "Stalkin'".[6][3]
1960s
editHis single "This Is Worth Fighting For" was picked by Billboard magazine in July 1967 to chart in the hot 100.[7] Also in 1967, the film Banning that starred Robert Wagner and Jill St. John and Gene Hackman was released. Bernal sang the song "The Eyes of Love" which was featured in the film. He received an Academy Award nomination for it. He performed "It Sure Is Groovy" for the 1967 movie In the Heat of the Night, starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger.[8][9] Bernal also sang "The Next Train Out", featured in the 1969 film Blood of Dracula's Castle.[10]
1970s
editIn 1970, he was signed to Amaret Records with the intention to be produced Joe Porter and Jerry Styner.[11]
1990s to 2000s
editIn 1997, Bernal appeared in the film The End of Violence.[12] In the 1990s, he received a phone call from Ry Cooder, who had known him for about five years, asking him to come to Havana in the next few days to play on a recording by Ibrahim Ferrer. Bernal did no't have his passport in order and it would have been weeks before he could get it sorted. In the end, the solution was to overdub the saxophone parts. So, following Cooder's instructions, he added the parts.[13] In 2005, Bernal contributed to Cooder's concept album Chavez Ravine.[14]
In 2012, his record "The Dogs" bw "James" was re-released by Jukebox Jam Series in 2012. The A-side is a Northern Soul favorite, while the B-side is a tribute to civil rights movement figure James Meredith. Bernal had agreed to the terms of reissuing the 45 but died before the record was released.[15][16]
Death
editIn 2011, he died in Glendale, California, at the age of 80.[17][14]
Discography
edit| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Whip" / "Easyville" | Spark 102 | 1954 | |
| "Strawberry Stomp" / "King Solomon's Blues" | Spark 106 | 195? | [18][19] |
| "Keep Those Wanderin' Eyes Off My Baby" / "I'll Come Back To You" | American 45 1034 | 1956 | |
| "Tab, Rory And Rock, Rock" / "Take Me Back" | Verve V-10087X45 | 1957 | [20] |
| "The Dogs" / "James" | Bump's Record Co B1501 | 1961 | [21] |
| "This Is Worth Fighting For" / "They Say I Don't See | RCA Victor 47-9261 | 1967 | [2] |
| "To Make A Big Man Cry" / "Can You Love A Poor Boy" | RCA Victor 47-9390 | 1967 | |
| "Tower of Strength" / "The Man" | Imperial 66332 1968 | 1968 | |
| "The Dogs" / "James" | Jukebox Jam Series JBJ 1028 | 2012 | Reissue[22] |
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensual and Latin | Jimi Lane Records | [13] | |
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Eyes of Love" | featured in Banning (1967) | 1967 | Academy Award nominated performance.
Lyrics by Bob Russell and music by Quincy Jones[23] |
| "Nina" | featured in In Cold Blood (1967) | 1967 | Lyrics and music by Quincy Jones[24] |
| "The Next Train Out" | theme song to Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969) | 1969 | Lyrics by Bob Russell and music by Lincoln Mayorga[10] |
References
edit- ↑ Thursby, Keith (July 27, 2011). "Gil Bernal dies at 80; veteran tenor saxophonist". Los Angeles Times.
- 1 2 Discogs Gil Bernal
- 1 2 LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead Obituary by Jonny Whiteside
- ↑ Beyond Alliances: The Jewish Role in Reshaping the Racial Landscape of Southern California, George J. Sanchez, Editor Page 49 Multicultural Music, Jews and American Culture
- ↑ You Found that Eastside Sound Saturday, July 2, 2011 CHICANO ROCKER – GIL BERNAL
- ↑ Duane Eddy – Twang Thang – The Duane Eddy Anthology, Discogs.
- ↑ "Spotlight Singles | CHART Spotlights-Predicted to reach the HOT 100 Chart". Billboard. July 29, 1967. p. 18.
- ↑ World Filmography: 1967 Peter Cowie, Derek Elley Page 552, Banning
- ↑ LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead, Obituary by Jonny Whiteside
- 1 2 IMDb "Blood of Dracula's Castle"
- ↑ Bliiboard August 1, 1970 Page 72 Amaret in 'Outside' Spree
- ↑ "Gil Bernal". The New York Times.
- 1 2 Heckman, Don (November 9, 2001). "From Duane Eddy to Buena Vista Social Club, Gil Bernal Is on Call". Los Angeles Times.
- 1 2 "US saxophonist Gil Bernal dies aged 80". BBC News. July 28, 2011.
- ↑ Worthpoint Gil Bernal – The Dogs / James – Legendary Rhythm & Blues & Northern Soul Stomper
- ↑ Jukebox Jam February 18, 2012 Just In: GIL BERNAL ‘The Dogs’
- ↑ USA Today July 27, 2011 'Smokey Joe's Café' saxophonist Gil Bernal dies
- ↑ Jazz Records, 1942–80: a discography, Vol. 2:Bar – Br, Edited by Erik Raben Page 312
- ↑ You Found that Eastside Sound Saturday, July 2, 2011 Chicano Rocker – Gil Bernal
- ↑ 45Cat Gil Bernal
- ↑ Popskie RARE GIL BERNAL The Dogs BUMPS NORTHERN SOUL 45 HEAR!
- ↑ Discogs Gil Bernal Discography, Singles & EPs
- ↑ IMDb
- ↑ IMDb