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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.

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".

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. 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. He played on Duane Eddy's 1958 hit "Rebel Rouser" and also "Stalkin'".

1960s

His single "This Is Worth Fighting For" was picked by Billboard in July 1967 to chart in the hot 100. 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. Bernal also sang "The Next Train Out", featured in the 1969 film 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.

1990s to 2000s

In 1997 he appeared in the film The End of Violence. 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. In 2005, Bernal contributed to Cooder's concept album Chavez Ravine.

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.

Death

In 2011, he died in Glendale, California, at the age of 80.

Discography

References

1. Los Angeles Times July 27, 2011 Gil Bernal dies at 80; veteran tenor saxophonist
2. Discogs Gil Bernal
3. LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead Obituary by Jonny Whiteside
4. 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
5. You Found that Eastside Sound Saturday, July 2, 2011 CHICANO ROCKER – GIL BERNAL
6. Discogs Duane Eddy – Twang Thang – The Duane Eddy Anthology
7. LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead Obituary by Jonny Whiteside
8. Billboard July 29, 1967 Page 18 Spotlight Singles, CHART Spotlights-Predicted to reach the HOT 100 Chart
9. World Filmography: 1967 Peter Cowie, Derek Elley Page 552 Banning
10. LA Weekly Tuesday, July 19, 2011 R.I.P. Gil Bernal; Los Angeles Tenor Sax Great is Dead, Obituary by Jonny Whiteside
11. IMDb Blood of Dracula's Castle
12. Bliiboard August 1, 1970 Page 72 Amaret in 'Outside' Spree
13. New York Times Gil Bernal
14. Los Angeles Times November 9, 2001 From Duane Eddy to Buena Vista Social Club, Gil Bernal Is on Call – Don Heckman
15. BBC News July 28, 2011 US saxophonist Gil Bernal dies aged 80
16. Worthpoint Gil Bernal – The Dogs / James – Legendary Rhythm & Blues & Northern Soul Stomper
17. Jukebox Jam February 18, 2012 Just In: GIL BERNAL ‘The Dogs’
18. USA Today July 27, 2011 'Smokey Joe's Café' saxophonist Gil Bernal dies
19. BBC News July 28, 2011 US saxophonist Gil Bernal dies aged 80
20. Jazz records, 1942–80: a discography Vol 2:Bar – Br Edited by Erik Raben Page 312
21. You Found that Eastside Sound Saturday, July 2, 2011 Chicano Rocker – Gil Bernal
22. 45Cat Gil Bernal
23. Popskie RARE GIL BERNAL The Dogs BUMPS NORTHERN SOUL 45 HEAR!
24. Discogs Gil Bernal
25. Discogs Gil Bernal Discography, Singles & EPs
26. Los Angeles Times November 9, 2001 From Duane Eddy to Buena Vista Social Club, Gil Bernal Is on Call – Don Heckman
27. IMDb Blood of Dracula's Castle

Links

• Gil Bernal at IMDb
• Gil Bernal Misplaced Pages Germany

Discussions

• Gil Bernal discussed at Monstor Movie Music
• Gil Bernal discussed at Soul Source

• 1931 births
• 2011 deaths
• American people of Italian descent
• American session musicians
• American jazz tenor saxophonists
• American male saxophonists
• American male pop singers
• Singers from Los Angeles
• Hispanic and Latino American musicians
• American musicians of Mexican descent
• American male actors of Mexican descent
• Jazz musicians from California
• American male jazz musicians
• 20th-century American saxophonists