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Bernie Cash

Bernard Cash (Bernie) was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England on 18 January 1935, the son of Michael Cash and Eileen Cash (nee Mundy). His father's family had escaped persecution of the Russian jews at the turn of the 20th century, and he found himself in Yorkshire after leaving London as a ten year old. Eileen's family were Irish Roman Catholics, making Bernie a religious hybrid, although he never followed any creed. Music became his religion. Bernie began his musical career as a trumpet player, gaining a reputation playing with different bands around the UK. At the age of 25, he decided to take up the double bass, and under the tutelage of Peter Ind, became a fine exponent of the instrument. Naturally, as a musician, Bernie wanted to play to earn a living, and moved to London in 1961 with his wife, Vera. Here he became involved in the jazz scene, and played with many musicians of note. in 1962, the couple's first child, a daughter Jane was born. Life in the capital was not deemed suitable for a young family, and Bernie returned to Yorkshire, where he founded the Light Music Course at Leeds College of Music, a course that is still running today. Recruiting his friend and mentor Ind, Bernie went about establishing the first real jazz course in the UK. The excellent British jazz guitarist Dave Cliff was just one of the gems unearthed as a result of the course. A highly principled man, Bernie quit the college after a disagreement with the powers that be. Now having a son, Joel, an income was needed, and the Cash family moved to Bridlington, on the East Yorkshire Coast, where Bernie worked as a peripatetic instrumental teacher. He continued to make regular trips to London to perform the jazz music he loved, whilst organising jazz gigs in the North of England with many of the great players he had met. He attended Hull University from 1974 - 1977, studying music, and whilst there organised many jazz gigs, including getting the legendary Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh over from the US. Bernie continued to work in music education, whilst maintaining his own playing career, becoming the Deputy Music Advisor for the Hull area following his degree. In 1977, Bernie created Great Jazz Solos Revisited, a big band playing transcribed solos, which he scored, of some of his favourite atrists' solos, including Lester Young, Charlie Parker and Charlie Christian.

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