Clyde E. B. Bernhardt

Clyde Edric Barron Bernhardt (July 11, 1905 – May 20, 1986) was an American jazz trombonist.

Bernhardt was born in Gold Hill, North Carolina, and raised there and in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He started playing trombone at age 17, and in the 1920s played with a variety of lesser-known ensembles, such as Bill Eady's Ellwood Syncopators, Tillie Vennie, Odie Cromwell's Wolverine Syncopators, Charlie Grear's Original Midnite Ramblers, the Richard Cheatham Orchestra, the Whitman Sisters, Honey Brown's Orchestra, Henry P. McClane's Society Orchestra and Ray Parker. He worked with King Oliver in 1931, and through the middle of the decade did stints with Alex Hill, The Alabamians, Billy Fowler, Ira Coffey's Walkathonians, and Vernon Andrade.

In 1937, he joined Edgar Hayes's orchestra, remaining there through 1942, then worked with Jay McShann, Cecil Scott, Luis Russell, Leonard Feather, Pete Johnson, Wynonie Harris, Claude Hopkins, and Paul and Dud Bascomb. He led his own ensemble, called the Blue Blazers, before returning to play with Russell from 1948 to 1951. He recorded as a leader between 1946 and 1953, and on some of the recordings he sings under the pseudonym Ed Barron.

From 1952 to 1970, he played part-time with Joe Garland's Society Orchestra, mainly working outside of music during this time. Following this he led the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band between 1972 and 1979; his sidemen included Doc Cheatham, Charlie Holmes, Happy Caldwell, Tommy Benford, and Miss Rhapsody. Bernhardt's heath began to fail in 1979, and he gave up leadership of the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, but played in Barry Martyn's Legends of Jazz until his death in Newark, New Jersey in 1986.

Shortly before his death he published an autobiography co-written with Sheldon Harris entitled I Remember.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 11, 1905, Died May 20, 1986 (Newark)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 62217 10-in. 5/25/1937 Caravan Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62218 10-in. 5/25/1937 Edgar steps out Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62219 10-in. 5/25/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62220 10-in. 5/25/1937 Stomping at the Renny Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62450 10-in. 7/27/1937 Laughing at life Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62451 10-in. 7/27/1937 High, wide and handsome Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62452 10-in. 7/27/1937 Satan takes a holiday Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62675 10-in. 10/11/1937 Queen Isabella Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62676 10-in. 10/11/1937 Old King Cole Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62677 10-in. 10/11/1937 Shindig Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 62678 10-in. 10/11/1937 Let's love Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63157 10-in. 1/14/1938 Meet the band Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63158 10-in. 1/14/1938 Fugitive from a harem Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63159 10-in. 1/14/1938 Swingin' in the promised land Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63160 10-in. 1/14/1938 Barbary Coast blues Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63294 10-in. 2/17/1938 Help me Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63295 10-in. 2/17/1938 Without you Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63296 10-in. 2/17/1938 You're my first thought every morning Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63297 10-in. 2/17/1938 In the mood Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63298 10-in. 2/17/1938 Star dust Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 63299 10-in. 2/17/1938 Sophisticated swing Edgar Hayes Orchestra vocalist  
Decca 74592 8/20/1948 Pretty Mama blues Clyde E. B. Bernhardt vocalist  
Decca 74593 8/20/1948 My heart belongs to you Clyde E. B. Bernhardt vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bernhardt, Clyde E. B.," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104911.

Bernhardt, Clyde E. B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104911.

"Bernhardt, Clyde E. B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104911

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