Contact: (757) 489-0918  Email: Bernie@whro.net

Bernie Lee began piano lessons at age 10 and a few years later added guitar instruction courtesy of his piano teacher. He played his first professional gig in Bisbee, Arizona, in 1979 and has over 30 years experience performing in acoustic and band settings. In 1988, he had the good fortune to meet Barbara Nesbitt and become part of a circle of friends and musicians who formed the band Rare Daze. The band released two collections of original music in the early 90s and parted amicably in 1994. Bernie and Barbara continued to play together as an acoustic duo, the Perpetrators, from 1993 until the winter of 2005, when Barbara moved to California. As a member of Rare Daze and the Perpetrators, Bernie shared the stage in support of a diverse line-up of artists, including NRBQ, Maceo Parker, Randy California and Spirit, Merle Saunders and the Rain Forest Band, Lisa Loeb, members of the new Riders of the Purple Sage, Keller Williams, Robert Earl Keen, Hootie and the Blowfish and Nickel Creek.

In 2003, Bernie began a musical collaboration with Scott Bailey – a talented musician and instructor at Alpha Music. Bernie and Scott played together as an acoustic duo, the Maynards, until 2007, when Scott left to begin law school in North Carolina. Bernie took over Scott’s teaching position at Alpha and joined the Jesse Chong Band as keyboardist. The JCB has played the American Music Jamboree in Asheville, North Carolina, and the Floydfest and Camp Barefoot music festivals in Virginia and has had the pleasure of sharing stages with – among others – the Neville Brothers, INXS, the Derek Trucks Band, Dark Star Orchestra, Cracker, 10,000 Maniacs and Snoop Dogg.

Bernie holds a BS degree from Randolph-Macon College. He offers lessons on guitar, piano, banjo and ukulele in a wide variety of styles (rock, country, blues, folk, reggae, Americana...) with an emphasis on practical theory, versatility, performance and creativity. All ages welcomed.