Gil Bernal
{{short description|American singer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Gil Bernal
| image =
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| birth_name =
| native_name =
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|2|4}}
| birth_place = Watts, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| origin =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|7|17|1931|2|4}}
| death_place = Glendale, California
| genre = Rock & roll, pop, R&B
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Saxophone
Vocals
| years_active =
| label = Spark Records, Amaret Records
| associated_acts = Lionel Hampton
| website =
}}
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.
Background
Bernal was born on February 4, 1931, in Watts, Los Angeles. His father was Sicilian and his mother Mexican.Los Angeles Times [https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-gil-bernal-20110727-story.html July 27, 2011 Gil Bernal dies at 80; veteran tenor saxophonist]
Career
As 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".Discogs [http://www.discogs.com/artist/461022-Gil-Bernal Gil Bernal]
=Early years to the 1950s=
By 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 that Lionel Hampton had fired. He then toured nationally with Hampton in a band that included Quincy Jones and Little Jimmy Scott.LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 [http://www.laweekly.com/music/rip-gil-bernal-los-angeles-tenor-sax-great-is-dead-2405389 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead Obituary by Jonny Whiteside] 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.Beyond Alliances: The Jewish Role in Reshaping the Racial Landscape of Southern California George J. Sanchez, Editor [https://books.google.com/books?id=xaUh_qSGv80C&dq=%22Gil+Bernal%22&pg=PA49 Page 49 Multicultural Music, Jews and American Culture]You Found that Eastside Sound Saturday, July 2, 2011 [http://wwwyoufoundthateastsidesoundcom.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/chicano-rocker-gil-bernal.html CHICANO ROCKER – GIL BERNAL]
He played on Duane Eddy's 1958 hit "Rebel Rouser" and also "Stalkin'".Discogs [http://www.discogs.com/Duane-Eddy-Twang-Thang-The-Duane-Eddy-Anthology/release/3727855 Duane Eddy – Twang Thang – The Duane Eddy Anthology]LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 [http://www.laweekly.com/music/rip-gil-bernal-los-angeles-tenor-sax-great-is-dead-2405389 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead Obituary by Jonny Whiteside]
=1960s=
His single "This Is Worth Fighting For" was picked by Billboard in July 1967 to chart in the hot 100.Billboard July 29, 1967 [https://books.google.com/books?id=aigEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Ernie+Freeman%22Gil+Bernal%22&pg=PA18 Page 18 Spotlight Singles, CHART Spotlights-Predicted to reach the HOT 100 Chart] 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 movie "In The Heat of the Night" starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger.World Filmography: 1967 Peter Cowie, Derek Elley [https://books.google.com/books?id=Jp7ayTLX1D8C&dq=banning+Robert+Wagner+Bernal&pg=PA552 Page 552 Banning]LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 [http://www.laweekly.com/music/rip-gil-bernal-los-angeles-tenor-sax-great-is-dead-2405389 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead, Obituary by Jonny Whiteside] Bernal also sang "The Next Train Out", featured in the 1969 film Blood of Dracula's Castle.IMDb [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061412/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd Blood of Dracula's Castle]
=1970s=
In 1970, he was signed to Amaret Records with the intention to be produced Joe Porter and Jerry Styner.Bliiboard August 1, 1970 [https://books.google.com/books?id=X0UEAAAAMBAJ&dq=jOE+pORTER%2C+jerry+Styner&pg=PA72 Page 72 Amaret in 'Outside' Spree]
=1990s to 2000s=
In 1997 he appeared in the film The End of Violence.New York Times [https://web.archive.org/web/20160325150507/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/618581/Gil-Bernal/filmography Gil Bernal] In the 90s, 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 didn'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.Los Angeles Times November 9, 2001 [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-09-ca-1950-story.html From Duane Eddy to Buena Vista Social Club, Gil Bernal Is on Call – Don Heckman] In 2005, Bernal contributed to Cooder's concept album Chavez Ravine.BBC News July 28, 2011 [https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-14322621 US saxophonist Gil Bernal dies aged 80]
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.Worthpoint [http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/gil-bernal-dogs-james-legendary-273892768 Gil Bernal – The Dogs / James – Legendary Rhythm & Blues & Northern Soul Stomper]Jukebox Jam February 18, 2012 [http://www.jukeboxjam.org/2012/02/jbj1028/ Just In: GIL BERNAL ‘The Dogs’]
Death
In 2011, he died in Glendale, California, at the age of 80.USA Today July 27, 2011 [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2011-07-27-Smokey-Joes-Cafeacute-saxophonist-Gil-Bernal-dies_n.htm 'Smokey Joe's Café' saxophonist Gil Bernal dies]BBC News July 28, 2011 [https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-14322621 US saxophonist Gil Bernal dies aged 80]
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Singles |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | "The Whip" / "Easyville"
| Spark 102 | 1954 | |
| scope="row" | "Strawberry Stomp" / "King Solomon's Blues"
| Spark 106 | 195? | Jazz records, 1942–80: a discography Vol 2:Bar – Br Edited by Erik Raben [https://books.google.com/books?id=gKNHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Gil+Bernal%22Spark+102+Easyville Page 312]You Found that Eastside Sound Saturday, July 2, 2011 [http://wwwyoufoundthateastsidesoundcom.blogspot.com/2011/07/chicano-rocker-gil-bernal.html Chicano Rocker – Gil Bernal] |
| scope="row" | "Keep Those Wanderin' Eyes Off My Baby" / "I'll Come Back To You"
| American 45 1034 | 1956 | |
| scope="row" | "Tab, Rory And Rock, Rock" / "Take Me Back"
| Verve V-10087X45 | 1957 | 45Cat [http://www.45cat.com/45_search.php?sq=Gil+Bernal&sm=se Gil Bernal] |
| scope="row" | "The Dogs" / "James"
| Bump's Record Co B1501 | 1961 |
| scope="row" | "This Is Worth Fighting For" / "They Say I Don't See
| RCA Victor 47-9261 | 1967 | Discogs [http://www.discogs.com/artist/461022-Gil-Bernal Gil Bernal] |
| scope="row" | "To Make A Big Man Cry" / "Can You Love A Poor Boy"
| RCA Victor 47-9390 | 1967 | |
| scope="row" | "Tower of Strength" / "The Man"
| Imperial 66332 1968 | 1968 | |
| scope="row" | "The Dogs" / "James"
| Jukebox Jam Series JBJ 1028 | 2012 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Albums |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | Sensual and Latin
| Jimi Lane Records | |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Other |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Release info ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | "The Eyes of Love"
| featured in Banning (1967) | 1967 | Academy Award nominated performance. Lyrics by Bob Russell and music by Quincy JonesIMDb [https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/3961247-Various-The-Eyes-Of-Love |
| scope="row" | "Nina"
| featured in In Cold Blood (1967) | 1967 | Lyrics and music by Quincy JonesIMDb [https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/663368-Quincy-Jones-In-Cold-Blood |
| scope="row" | "The Next Train Out"
| theme song to Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969) | 1969 | Lyrics by Bob Russell and music by Lincoln MayorgaIMDb [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061412/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd Blood of Dracula's Castle] |
References
{{Reflist}}
Links
- {{IMDb name|0076072}}
- Gil Bernal Wikipedia Germany
=Discussions=
- [http://monstermoviemusic.blogspot.com/2007/12/blood-of-draculas-castle-gil-bernal.html Gil Bernal discussed at Monstor Movie Music]
- [http://www.soul-source.co.uk/soulforum/topic/266524-gil-bernal-the-dogs-bumps-b1501/ Gil Bernal discussed at Soul Source]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernal, Gil}}
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:American session musicians
Category:American jazz tenor saxophonists
Category:American male saxophonists
Category:American male pop singers
Category:Singers from Los Angeles
Category:Hispanic and Latino American musicians
Category:American musicians of Mexican descent
Category:American male actors of Mexican descent
Category:Jazz musicians from California