b. 31st October 1952, Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
d. 18th April, 1996, Tokyo, Japan
Bernard Edwards was born 31st October, 1952, in Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Bernard first met Nile Rodgers in 1970.
Moving to New York, the pair began playing in the clubs and bars, Bernard on bass and Nile on guitar.
Here they met drummer Tony Thompson.
The trio formed the Big Apple Band who played as a backup band for the soul group New York City.
One collaboration was with the artist Walter Murphy, who utilised the Big Apple Band on his chart hit 'A Fifth Of Beethoven' in 1976.
The group was, actually, entitled Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band.
Following this success, Bernard and Nile formed the group Chic adding female vocalists Alfa Anderson and Luci Martin.
There then followed several top twenty hits between 1977 and 1983, including the dance classics 'Good Times', 'My Forbidden Lover' and 'I Want Your Love'.
'Good Times', with it's unique bassline, became the foundation for many rap artist records including 'Rappers Delight' by the Sugarhill Gang and 'Catch The Beat' by T Ski Valley.
Initially, to fund their first records, the pair had to sell their instruments.
Following the 'Believer' album, Bernard and Nile began working on solo projects as well as recording with other artists including ABC, Rod Stewart, Power Station, Starpoint, Missing Persons, and Nona Hendryx.
Bernard cut his only solo album 'Glad To Be Here' for Atlanic in 1983 and was assisted by Nile and Luther Vandross on artistic chores.
Bernard and Nile reunited for a 1992 Chic LP, 'Chic-ism' for Warner Brothers Records.
At the age of 43, Bernard Edwards died of pneumonia while touring with the group Power Station in Tokyo, Japan, on the 18th of April, 1996.
Albums:
Glad To Be Here (Atlantic 1983)
