THE HARRY JAMES OF THE WESTWARD HO
by Joyce Gittoes
from HO HAPPENINGS, February 2001
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Phil Bernie, born Philip Bernard Bloom, on Chicago's Northside in
1923 heard "Jazz" from the day he was born. He was born at home,
and home was an apartment over a Jazz club. Phil was an only
child, born to hardworking parents, who nurtured his musical
talents early on. |
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At the age of five, Phil and his parents moved to Rochester, New
York, where his father could find more work as a clothing cutter.
His mother also worked to help out, becoming the manager of a
bassinet company. Phil never liked it in Rochester, even though
he returned there several times. When Phil was eight years old, he was given a test to determine the extent of his musical talent. He scored extremely high, and it was suggested that he take up the oboe. The oboe is an instrument that requires perfect pitch to play. But Phil was already in love with the trumpet, which he had heard played in the bands in the park. Phil insisted on the trumpet. Phil's first trumpet was a rented one -- he was in the school band, and he rented it from them. Soon, he was able to buy his own with the help of a paper route. By the time he was eleven years old he had his own 11-piece band that played at school dances and other functions. In high school Phil was an average student, continuing to lead his own band. After graduation in 1940, he remained in Rochester for two years, playing weekends in hotels and clubs. In 1942, when WWII broke out, Phil enlisted in the U.S. Air Force with the intention of becoming a bombardier or a pilot. Unfortunately, his color blindness prevented that from happening. Instead, he asked to be put into the band, where he became the trumpet soloist both in the 341st Air Force Band in Palm Beach, Florida and in the 371st Air Force Band in Sacramento, California. Phil was discharged from the service in 1946, after serving three years and two months, and went home to Rochester. There he attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he received a BA in Journalism, the University of Minnesota, where he received an Associate's degree in Public Relations, and the Newspaper Institute of America. In that time period he also put together his first 16-piece band. Family members tried to convince Phil to go into some business in New York or some other big city, but Phil stood his ground. He took his band on the road from the East Coast to the West Coast, and points in between. On the East Coast, he played in places like Hagerstown, Maryland; Atlantic City; Wildwood, New Jersey; Fairfax, Virginia; Miami, Florida, and New York City. He spent two and a half years in Slidell, New Orleans, where he bought a home and lived with his mother. In the Mid-West, he worked in Sioux City, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. Some of the original band went with him, but he had to pick up some new members along the way. One of the highlights of Phil's career was being overheard playing his trumpet in his manager's office in New York City by the late great Duke Ellington. When the Duke realized it was Phil he heard playing he said, "How did you learn to play like that?" Another was being handed an award for excellence for Jackie Cooper on behalf of the Motion Picture Industry in California. In the 1960s, Phil played at the White House on numerous occasions with the Ted Alexander and Gene Donati big bands, two of President Lyndon B. Johnson's favorites. From 1965 to 1972, Phil lived in the Houston area, playing with the band of Al Pilner. He returned to Rochester in 1972, and was given a hero's welcome by the local media and driven in a new Cadillac convertible down Main Street in the Genessee Aqua Festival Parade with a "Welcome Home, Phil Bernie" theme. Phil formed his own band again, and played in hotels and country clubs all over the Rochester area. He was also honored with his own television show, which brought the big band sounds into people's living rooms. "An Evening With Phil Bernie," as the show was called, was a big success. From 1972 to 1988 Phil lived and worked first in Los Angeles, then in Mesquite, Texas (near Dallas). At age 65, Phil retired from playing his "beloved" trumpet at his doctor's advice. For the next nine years he taught trumpet lessons, did free-lance writing, and even dabbled in magic. His most recent published work was an article in the January 1997 issue of Downbeat magazine entitled, "How to Put Together Your First Big Band." Three years ago Phil moved to Phoenix and the Westward Ho for a change in the weather. Before he moved, he called the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and told them he was a senior citizen on a fixed income and needed housing. They gave him the number of the Westward Ho. When he called, and it was suggested that he come and visit, Phil explained that he couldn't do that. He told Joanne to pick out an apartment that she would like for herself, and he would come and move in. Well, as they say, "The rest is history." Phil says he likes it here -- most of the people are nice. Phil is still trying to find his niche here. He 's exploring several possibilities -- writing and teaching are high on the list. We wish him luck. |