Originally from Decatur, Alabama, Bernie is a faculty member of Nashville's W.O. Smith School of Music. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Kentucky while studying trumpet with Vincent DiMartino and holds a Masters of Music from Arkansas State University. He's performed with the Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga Symphonies as well as several seasons at Opryland.
In addition to playing E-flat cornet for Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band, Bernie is also responsible for several of the group's unique musical arrangements. In An American Sampler, Rhapsody In Silver and Moon Country, the band's 1995, 1997 and 2001 recording projects, he is featured as both soloist and arranger.
And he was once run out of a bandstand by a
rampaging Brahma bull.