Milt Bernhart

Biography

Bernhart (occasionally spelled Bernhardt) began on tuba, but switched to trombone in high school. At 16 he worked in Boyd Raeburn's band and later had some "gigs" with Teddy Powell. After time in the United States Army he worked, off and on, with Stan Kenton for the next ten years. He is perhaps most associated with Kenton, but in 1955 he had his first album as a leader. In 1986 he was elected President of the Big Band Academy of America.

Although known as "mild-mannered" or humorous, his brief period with Benny Goodman was one area that brought out his ire. He indicated working with Goodman was "the bottom", except for basic training in the Army, of his first 23 years of life. He called Goodman a "bore" and claimed he did nothing about the treatment Wardell Gray faced at a segregated club in Las Vegas. He even alleges that he quit because Goodman publicly humiliated Gray in front of an audience.

Bernhart died of congestive heart failure in Glendale, California at the age of 77.

Discography

With Chet Baker and Bud Shank

With Elmer Bernstein

With Buddy Bregman

With Sammy Davis Jr

With Maynard Ferguson

With Stan Kenton

With Junior Mance

With Johnny Mandel

With the Henri René Orchestra

With Pete Rugolo

With Lalo Schifrin