Bernard Edwards

Born: October 31st, 1952, Greenvile, North Carolina

Died: April 18, 1996, Japan

Bernard Edwards is best known for his work with Disco/Funk group Chic, including the hits “Good Times”, “Le Freak”, “Everybody Dance” and “I Want Your Love”.  He was also a prolific songwriter, producer and session player who worked with many of music’s top artists during his time.

Edwards was born in Greenville, NC but was raised in Brooklyn, NY.  This is where he would eventually meet his long time friend, band mate and writing and production partner, Nile Rodgers.  In the early 1970’s, Edwards was working at the post office… and his coworker happened to be the mother of Rodgers’ girlfriend.  The pair would start a band called The Big Apple Band, which would eventually join with drummer Tony Thompson and singer Norma Jean Wright to form the band Chic.

Chic would go on to write a pile of funk/disco classics including the songs listed previously and other funk hits like “My Feet Keep Dancing”, “Dance, Dance, Dance” and “My Forbidden Lover”. 

Edwards and Rodgers were regularly recruited by other artists for their songwriting and production prowess.  Some of Bernard’s work outside of Chic includes Diana Ross’ hit songs “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down”, Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” and “He’s the Greatest Dancer”.  Edwards also produced and played on songs for Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, Debbie Harry (of Blondie), Joe Cocker, and Jody Watley to name a few.  For our full Bernard Edwards discography, see the bottom of this post.

Bernard’s basslines with Chic and other artists have been sampled by many producers to produce even more hits.  Most notably, the bassline from “Good Times” was used by The Sugarhill Gang for their hip hop mega hit “Rapper’s Delight”.  The song “He’s the Greatest Dancer” was eventually sampled by Will Smith for his song “Gettin’ Jiggy With It”.

Bernard was famous for a unique bass technique that he developed called “chucking.”  With this technique, Bernard would use his thumb and forefinger as a pick to play some intricate grooves and bass solos.  You can hear this technique on the opening groove and in the bass solo of Chic’s “Everybody Dance.”

In 1996, both Bernard and Nile Rodgers were in Tokyo to play a concert called “J.T. Super Producers ’96,”  (sponsored by J.T. Tobacco) at the Budokan Arena.  Upon discovering Edwards was feeling ill prior to the show, Rodgers insisted on cancelling the show, but Bernard declined and insisted on playing the show.  Edwards played the show but had to be helped at times and at one point blacked out for a few seconds and eventually resumed playing.  To Rodgers knowledge at the time, Bernard had dropped out intentionally. Checking in on Edwards after the show, Edwards told Rodgers “I’m fine, I just need to rest.”  This would be the last time the two friends would speak as Edwards would be found dead in his hotel room by Rodgers.  The official cause of death was pneumonia.  Edwards was only 43 years old at the time.

Although he left this earthly plane way too early, Bernard Edwards left an undeniable mark on the world and wrote many songs and basslines that defined the genres of disco, funk and r&b.  His grooves still play on radio stations and playlists around the world and his incredible groove still inspires and mystifies bassists to this day.