Biography: Gil Bernal was born in Los Angeles in the heart of South Central, and attended Grape Street. and 102nd Street Elementary Schools, Jordan High School and enrolled in Los Angeles City College for a year before going on the road with Lionel Hampton and his band at age 18.
From an early age Gil became totally absorbed in the black culture that surrounded him, particularly; jazz. The neighborhood was rich with jazz talents such as Britt and William Woodman, Charles Mingus, Big Jay McNeely (who was then solely into jazz), Buddy Collette and many others.
Gil was younger than these budding stars that impacted and influenced him so strongly. But he was there!
He picked up the tenor sax, began singing and joined local neighborhood bands playing at parties and dances
Gil’s reputation grew and soon thereafter, jazz legend, Lionel Hampton, heard him and hired him. Gil spent the next three years touring the U.S. and Canada with the band as a featured tenor -sax soloist and vocalist.
After leaving Hampton’s band, Gil performed with his own group in Las Vegas for a time. While there, he was spotted by the great showman / band leader, Spike Jones and was hired on the spot. He spent the next six years again touring the U.S., playing Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe often, being featured as saxophone soloist, vocalist, impressionist, and, appeared on numerous NBC and CBS television shows.
Finally, leaving Spike Jones, Gil returned to L.A. and became an integral part of the thriving L.A. music scene, also working Vegas and Tahoe with his own group .
The sound of Gil Bernal is now heard on an impressive array of recordings with diverse orchestras and recording artists. He also performs on numerous movie soundtracks both as a tenor player and vocalist. Gil sang the Academy Award nominated theme song, “The Eyes of Love”, by Quincy Jones and Bob Russell for the movie, Banning”, and recorded as a vocalist for RCA Records, Liberty Records, and Amaret Records.
Throughout a career filled with variety, Gil’s passion for jazz remained constant. Famed author and jazz critic, Leonard Feather was one of the first to recognize Gil’s jazz artistry by documenting his contributions in his prestigious, Encyclopedia of Jazz .
Pursuing his passion, Gil now keeps busy playing jazz venues in and around Los Angeles. Reputed for the full, rich, swinging sound of his tenor, respected for his creative improvisations and musicianship, Gil is a professional who has earned the admiration of colleagues and loyal support of an ever-expanding following of jazz fans.