Bernard Edwards  

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Bernard Edwards (1952 – 1996) was a bass guitar player and record producer, both as a member of Chic and on his own.

History

Edwards who grew up in Brooklyn, New York City, met Nile Rodgers in the early 1970s. The two formed the Big Apple Band (active from 1972-1976) and then united with drummer Tony Thompson to eventually form Chic together with singer Norma Jean Wright.

With Chic (active 1976-1983) Edwards created era-defining hits such as "Dance, Dance, Dance", "Everybody Dance", "Le Freak", "I Want Your Love" and "Good Times". Edwards also worked with Nile Rodgers to produce and write for other artists, using Chic to perform everything musically and vocally except lead vocals. Those productions with Norma Jean Wright, Sister Sledge, Sheila and B. Devotion, Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis, Debbie Harry and Fonzi Thornton led to more hits such as "Saturday", "He's The Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", "Spacer", "Upside Down", "I'm Coming Out" and "Backfired" to name a few.

Chic split in 1983 after personal and artistic differences between Edwards and Rodgers.

Edwards released a solo album the same year, and in 1985 he was instrumental in the formation of the supergroup Power Station. The band's first album was produced by Edwards and featured Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John and Andy Taylor as well as singer Robert Palmer. Edwards followed this by producing Robert Palmer's hit album Riptide. He continued to produce artists throughout the 1980s and 90s. Among others, he worked with Diana Ross, Adam Ant, Rod Stewart, Air Supply, ABC and Duran Duran.

Edwards was the father of multi-platinum record producer Bernard "Focus..." Edwards, Jr. who has produced songs for Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé Knowles, Busta Rhymes, Bishop Lamont, Tony Yayo and more.

Edwards teamed up with Nile Rodgers again for the Chic reunion in the early 1990s and released the album Chic-Ism in 1992.

In 1996 Nile Rodgers was named JT Superproducer of the Year in Japan, and was invited to perform there with Chic in April of that year. Just before the concert at the Budokan Arena in Tokyo, Edwards fell ill, but despite Rodgers' insistence, he refused to cancel the gig. He managed to perform but had to be helped at times. After the concert he retired to his hotel room where he was later found dead by Rodgers. The cause of death was ruled to be pneumonia.

Selected discography

Chic

• Chic (1977)
• C'est Chic (1978)
• Risqué (1979)
• Real People (1980)
• Take It Off (1981)
• Tongue in Chic (1982)
• Believer (1983)
• Dance, Dance, Dance: The Best of Chic (1991)
• Chic-Ism (1992)
• The Best of Chic, Volume 2 (1992)
• Live at the Budokan (1999)

Solo

• Glad To Be Here (1983)

Production

• Norma Jean, Norma Jean Wright (1978)
• We Are Family, Sister Sledge (1979)
• King of the World, Sheila and B. Devotion (1980)
• Love Somebody Today, Sister Sledge (1980)
• diana, Diana Ross (1980)
• I Love My Lady, Johnny Mathis (1981) (Unreleased)
• Koo Koo, Debbie Harry (1981)
• unknown title, Fonzi Thornton (1982) (Unreleased)
• Swept Away, Diana Ross (1984)
• Power Station, Power Station (1985)
• "A View To A Kill" (single), Duran Duran (1985)
• Heat, Nona Hendryx (1985)
• Riptide, Robert Palmer (1985)
• Cocker, Joe Cocker (1986)
• Color In Your Life, Missing Persons (1986)
• Hearts In Motion, Air Supply (1986)
• Alphabet City, ABC (1987)
• If, Hollywood Beyond (1987)
• Contact, Platinum Blonde (1987)
• Jody Watley, Jody Watley (1987)
• Out of Order, Rod Stewart (1988)
• Under The One Sky, Distance (1989)
• YUI Orta, Ian Hunter/The Hunter Ronson Band (1990)
• Break The Silence, The Triplets (1990)
• Vagabond Heart, Rod Stewart (1991)
• Persuasion, Adam Ant (1991) (Unreleased)
• Living in Fear, Power Station (1996)