He was a baritone born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who became a member of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1972 when the group signed with Philadelphia International Records.
This period was the most successful time for the group and Bernard performed on hit songs such as “I Miss You”, Wake Up Everybody”, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”, “The Love I Lost” and “Don’t Leave Me This Way”.
He left the group in 1977 after the group had moved to ABC and recorded the hit song “Reaching for the World”.
He ventured out on his solo career and his final performance was in Atlantic City’s Trump Taj Mahal in the 1990s.
He passed away in December 2010, when he was 64 years old, after having suffered from complications from a heart attack and stroke..
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes recordings
Don’t Leave Me This Way (Kenneth Gamble/Cary Gilbert/Leon Huff)
Philadelphia International S PIR 4909 A
Arranger, Guitarist – Norman Harris
He performs here…
Sources:
- http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Harold%20Melvin%20&%20Blue%20Notes.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Melvin_&_the_Blue_Notes
- http://www.phillysoulclassics.com/artists/harold-melvin-the-blue-notes
- http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/harold_melvin_bluenotes.html
- http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gjftxqegldje~T4
- http://oldies.about.com/od/70spopandsoul/p/haroldmelvinbluenotes.htm