Edwards, Bernard
(31st October 1952-18th April 1996)
He was a bass player, songwriter and producer
born in Greenville, North Carolina, who grew up in New York City. In
the early 1970s he met Nile
Rodgers and together they established the Big Apple Band in 1972
with the drummer Tony
Thompson
and they performed with Walter Murphy
on his hit " A Fifth of
Beethoven".In 1976 they added
vocalists and the successful band Chic was born, seeing many of his solo or
co-written chart topping hits such as "Everybody Dance", "Dance, Dance,
Dance", "Good Times", "I Want Your Love" and the memorable "Le Freak".He and Nile
Rodgers would also
produce many other artists together right up until Chic's disbandment in
1983, he would carry on in his solo career.Artists such as Joe Cocker, Debbie
Harry, Duran Duran, The Jacksons, Mick
Jagger, Madonna, Johnny
Mathis, Diana
Ross, Sister Sledge and Jody Watley used his production work on
their recordings and this would include some of his own song-writing
hits such as "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family" by
Sister Sledge and "I'm Coming
Out" and "Upside Down" by Diana
Ross
.In 1985 he became involved in establishing the group Power Station,
whom he produced, with Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson from Chic and John and
Andy Taylor from Duran Duran and that very same year he released his first
solo album.Carrying on with the production work he would later work with
ABC, Air
Supply
and Rod
Stewart.In 1992 he re-united
with Chic and in 1996 was invited with the group to appear in Japan where
they had names him JT Superproducer of the Year.He
became ill while in Tokyo and although having to be helped through
the concert at the Budokan he completed it before going back to his
hotel room and being subsequently found dead by Nile
Rodgers
with
what was diagnosed as pneumonia.He was just 43 years old and left a legacy of bass playing that has
seen his bass line from "Good Times" being quoted as "one of the most
copied pieces of music in history" and is said to have given the
inspiration for Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" as well as being used
without credits on "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang.In recognition for his contribution
to music he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in New York in
2005.The albums his bass
playing has featured on include his own Glad to be Here, C'est
Chic, Risque and Real People by Chic, Some People by Belouis
Some
, Like a Virgin by Madonna, Simply the Best by
Tina Turner, Let's Dance by David Bowie, Once Bitten Twice Shy
by Ian Hunter, She's the Boss by Mick
Jagger , Studio Recordings
1972-2000
by Paul
Simon , We Are Family by Sister Sledge and Best
of Joe Cocker.
