Bert Berns
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Bert Berns | |
---|---|
Birth name | Bertrand Russell Berns |
Also known as | Bert Russell |
Born | 8 November 1929 |
Origin | New York, New York, United States |
Died | 30 December 1967 | (aged 38)
Genres | Pop, R&B, rock and roll, soul |
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer, label executive |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 1960s |
Website | bertberns.com |
Bertrand Russell "Bert" Berns (8 November 1929 – 30 December 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. A pioneer of sixties rock and soul, Berns made numerous contributions to popular music, including "Twist and Shout", "Piece of My Heart", "Brown Eyed Girl" (as a producer), "Here Comes the Night", "Hang on Sloopy", "Under the Boardwalk" and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". Berns was inducted with the 2016 class to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. He died of heart failure from rheumatic fever at age 38.
Early life
Born in the Bronx, New York City, to Russian Jewish immigrants, Berns contracted rheumatic fever as a child, an illness that damaged his heart and would mark the rest of his life, resulting in his early death. Turning to music, he found consonance in the sounds of his African American and Latino neighbors. As a young man, Berns danced in mambo nightclubs, and made his way to Havana before the Cuban Revolution.[1]
Music career
Beginnings (1960-1963)
Shortly after his return from Cuba, Berns began a seven-year run from an obscure Brill Building songwriter to owner of his own record labels. He signed as a $50/week songwriter with Robert Mellin Music at 1650 Broadway in 1960. His first hit record was "A Little Bit of Soap", performed by the Jarmels on Laurie Records in 1961. One year later, the Isley Brothers recorded "Twist and Shout" on Wand Records, written by Berns and Phil Medley. Berns also hit in 1962 with the Exciters' "Tell Him" on United Artists, and with Solomon Burke's "Cry to Me" on Atlantic Records. As an independent producer working with myriad record labels, Berns also made important records with Garnet Mimms ("Cry Baby") and Gene Pitney ("If I Didn't Have a Dime [to Play the Jukebox])".
Atlantic Records (1963-1965)
Berns's early work with Solomon Burke brought him to the attention of Atlantic label chiefs Ahmet Ertegün and Jerry Wexler. In 1963, Berns replaced Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller as the staff producer at Atlantic, where he wrote and produced hits for Solomon Burke ("Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"), the Drifters ("Under the Boardwalk" and "Saturday Night at the Movies"), Barbara Lewis ("Baby I'm Yours" and "Make Me Your Baby"), Little Esther Phillips ("Hello Walls"), Ben E. King, Wilson Pickett and LaVern Baker.
British Invasion (1964-1965)
With many of Berns's songs being recorded by British Invasion bands such as the Beatles ("Twist and Shout"), the Rolling Stones ("Cry to Me") and the Animals ("Baby Let Me Take You Home"), Berns became the first American record producer to travel across the Atlantic to work in London.[2] He went to England three times between 1964 and 1965, where he produced a number of British Decca artists such as Van Morrison's Them ("Here Comes the Night", "Baby Please Don't Go") and Lulu.
Bang Records (1965-1967)
In 1965, Bert Berns formed his own record label, Bang Records. Bang Records was founded with the Atlantic Records partners, with the label's name derived from the initials of their first names—Bert Berns, Ahmet Ertegün, Nesuhi Ertegün and Gerald (Jerry) Wexler. Bang was home to such artists as the McCoys ("Hang on Sloopy"), the Strangeloves ("I Want Candy"), Them's ex-lead singer Van Morrison ("Brown Eyed Girl"), and Neil Diamond ("Solitary Man" and "Cherry Cherry").
Shout Records (1966-1967)
With Bang Records releasing predominantly rock and roll, Berns formed Shout Records in 1966 as an outlet for his greatest passions of R&B and soul music, recording artists such Freddie Scott ("Are You Lonely for Me Baby") and Erma Franklin ("Piece of My Heart"). One of his last songs, "Piece of My Heart", was covered shortly thereafter by Big Brother and the Holding Company (fronted by then unknown Janis Joplin).
Death and legacy
Berns, who had a history of cardiac trouble, died of a heart attack in December 1967 aged 38.
Though not as widely known as his contemporaries, Bert Berns ranks among the most significant and influential of his generation, on a par with the writer/producer teams of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and Holland–Dozier–Holland. Beyond his enormous contribution to artists such as the Isley Brothers, the Exciters, Solomon Burke, the Drifters, Ben E. King, Van Morrison, and Neil Diamond, Berns has been credited with bringing Latin rhythms to soul music and soul to rock and roll.[3]
The Led Zeppelin outtake "Baby Come On Home" (originally titled "A Tribute To Bert Berns") was loosely based on a song Berns wrote for Hoagy Lands, and was recorded in Berns' honour.[4]
A book on his life and career, "Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues" by Joel Selvin was published in 2014.[5]
A musical, "Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story" by Daniel Goldfarb premiered Off Broadway in 2014 at the Pershing Square Signature Center.[6]
A documentary film titled "BANG - The Bert Berns Story" is planned for release in 2015.[4]
He was inducted as a non-performer with the 2016 class to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Selected writing credits
- "A Little Bit of Soap" The Jarmels (1961)
- "Twist and Shout" The Top Notes (1961), The Isley Brothers (1962), The Beatles (1963)
- "Cry to Me" Solomon Burke (1962)
- "Tell Him" The Exciters (1962)
- "Cry Baby" Garnet Mimms (1963), Janis Joplin (1971)
- "One Way Love" The Drifters (1963), Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers (1964)
- "I Don't Want To Go On Without You" The Drifters (1964), The Moody Blues (1965)
- "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" Solomon Burke (1964), Wilson Pickett (1967)
- "Baby Let Me Take You Home" The Animals (1964)
- "Here Comes the Night" Lulu (1964), Them (1965)
- "I Want Candy" The Strangeloves (1965), Bow Wow Wow (1982)
- "Hang on Sloopy" The McCoys (1965)
- "Down in the Valley" Solomon Burke (1964) Otis Redding (1965)
- "I'll Take Good Care Of You" Garnet Mimms (1967)
- "Are You Lonely For Me Baby" Freddie Scott (1967)
- "Piece of My Heart" Erma Franklin (1967), Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin (1968), Dusty Springfield (1968)[7]
- "Twenty Five Miles" Edwin Starr (1968)
Selected producer credits
- "Cry to Me" Solomon Burke (1962)
- "Twist and Shout" The Isley Brothers (1962)
- "Nobody but Me" The Isley Brothers (1963)
- "Under The Boardwalk" The Drifters (1964)
- "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" Solomon Burke (1964)
- "Here Comes the Night" Lulu (1964)
- "Baby Please Don't Go" Them (1965)
- "Here Comes the Night" Them (1965)
- "Baby I'm Yours" Barbara Lewis (1965)
- "Make Me Your Baby" Barbara Lewis (1965)
- "Piece of My Heart" Erma Franklin (1967)
- "Brown Eyed Girl" Van Morrison (1967)
Selected discography
- The Heart and Soul of Bert Berns (2003) a CD compiled by Doug Morris and Universal Music encompassing some of Berns' best work.
- Twist and Shout: The Bert Berns Story - Vol. 1: 1960-1964 (2008), a CD featuring more than two dozen of Berns' R&B and rock hits, released through Ace Records of England.
- Mr. Success: The Bert Berns Story - Vol. 2: 1964-1967 (2010), a CD featuring more than two dozen of Berns' R&B and rock hits, released through Ace Records of England.
- Hang on Sloopy: The Bert Berns Story - Vol. 3 (2014), a CD featuring more than two dozen of Berns' R&B and rock hits, released through Ace Records of England.
Bibliography
- Joel Selvin (2014). Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues. Counterpoint. p. 320., ISBN 1619023024
References
- ^ Selvin, Joel. Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues. Counterpoint Press, 2014, p.23
- ^ Selvin, Joel. Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues. Counterpoint Press, 2014, p.222
- ^ "New Bert Berns Collection". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved 2002-09-20.
- ^ a b Rohter, Larry. "Many Hit Wonder, Out of Obscurity" The New York Times, 16 July 2014
- ^ Gordon, Robert. "Hit Man" The New York Times, 30 May 2014
- ^ "Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story", website for off-Broadway musical
- ^ Dusty Springfield: Dusty Devotedly - Dusty Definitely
External links
- Official Bert Berns Website
- Bert Berns discography at Discogs
- The Dark Soul of Bert Berns
- 1929 births
- 1967 deaths
- People from New York City
- Jewish songwriters
- Songwriters from New York
- American record producers
- American songwriters
- Jewish American songwriters
- Jewish American musicians
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees
- American expatriates in Cuba
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- Jewish rock musicians