Biography

bio

I've been a musician since the age of 13, playing acoustic and electric guitar, flute, banjo, singing, writing songs. A pro musician for several years then teaching as well, I've played in several bands, duos, and solo all over UK and Europe. Recorded several albums two of which are 100% my own songs. I have a Masters in Music Education from Trinity College of Music in London. I was Music Teacher in a school for autistic spectrum disorders for 15 yrs.

  • born into a musical family in Birmingham.

  • had piano lessons for 6 months at age 8

  • self-taught harmonica from age 12

  • self-taught guitar from age 13

  • banjo and piano from 14

  • first gig singing Dylan/Donovan (school dance) aged 15

  • gigging with old-timey duo with Vince Stevenson aged 17.

  • solo gigs aged 18.

  • ran acoustic club at college.

  • ’71 supported early Thin Lizzy at The Crown Birmingham.

  • two years primary school teaching - left to be musician

  • ’73 bought Martin 00021 guitar from Mike Seeger

  • ’75 - Touchstone duo with Tom Martin (now of Tower of Song, Birmingham) All songs written by Tom Martin or Bernie Hartley

  • Touchstone nearly taken on by Virgin Records!

  • ’77 - band Sand and Gravel with BH -vocals, guitar, Geoff Lane - bass, Pete Hunt drums, Pete Hartley - violin, Jules Garside - Sax.

  • ’77 Radio Leeds own songs broadcast with BH - vocals, guitar, flute, Phil Bond - piano, flute, Pete Hartley - violin.

  • ’80 - band Mosaic with BH -Vocals, guitar, flute, Charlie Fairbanks - bass, George Robshaw - drums, Eddie Armitage - guitar, violin, Ally - vocals.

  • ’83 - bought guitar from Jimmy Page.

  • ’83 - Ibiza with Pete Hartley - violin

  • ’84 Albufeira Bar Fragoso solo 6 nights a week April - October

  • ’85 ‘Head Over Heels’ with BH - vocals, guitar, sax, Colin Weevil - guitar, vocals, Paul Whitwam - bass, Tony - drums, Phil -keyboards.

  • ’85 pro busker playing flute

  • ’86-’87 2yrs Algarve solo. (minimum 4 nights a week).

  • ’87-’88 The Debut Stratford with Gary Bardey vocals, guitar. 6 nights a week. Gene Anthony Ray (Leroy from Fame) came and sang with us several times. Supported Bob Monkhouse.

  • ’88-’92 supply teaching plus gigs guitar/vocals plus shopping malls playing flute and selling cassette albums

  • ’91 solo tour Scotland, gigs.

  • ’92 solo tour Scotland, gigs.

  • ’92 Mallorca solo 6 weeks Summer residency

  • ’92 recorded album ‘Touch the Sky’ - 13 original songs with Pete Hartley - Violin, Phil Bond - piano, accordion, Paul Whitwam - bass.

  • ’92 solo tour Germany, Belgium, gig in Brussels with Tom Martin.

  • ’93 Albufeira bar solo April - September 6 nights a week

  • ’94 solo tour Scotland, gigs London.

  • ’95 Algarve - solo gigs all Summer.

  • ’95’ - ’99 - music teacher special school Hackney, London + gigs

  • ’97 - 2000 - Irish music gigs London and S.E. BH - vocals, guitar, banjo, flute, Tim Martin - guitar, mandolin, vocals.

  • 2000 - 2015 - music teacher school for autism, Surrey + gigs

  • 2001 M.A. Music Education Trinity College of Music, London.

  • 2003 - wrote, directed, conducted Surrey Special Needs Christmas Concert in Guildford Cathedral

  • 2000 - 2003 - duo with James Vetch - guitar, keyboard, vocals.

  • 2006 recorded album Changing Light - 13 own songs with Phil Bond - piano, accordion, vocals, Miles Levin - drums, Tom Hill - bass, Pete Hartley - violin. Recorded by Bob Lamb at his Birmingham studio where he recorded the first UB40 album.

  • 2010 - met one of my hero’s Richie Havens.

  • 2010 - 2015 worked occasionally music education with John ‘Rhino’ Edwards of Status Quo

  • 2015 - 2018 France. ‘Yuma’ - French country/rock band - vocals, guitar, banjo, flute. Also solo and duo gigs.

  • 2018 - Hebden Bridge, UK writing songs and performing.