Bernie McGann facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bernie McGann
McGann in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Bernard Francis McGann
Born	(1937-06-22)22 June 1937 Granville, New South Wales, Australia
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Died	17 September 2013(2013-09-17) (aged 76)
Genres	Jazz
Instruments	Alto saxophone
Labels	Rufus Records
Associated acts	The Last Straw Bernie McGann Trio Bernie McGann Quartet

Bernie McGann (born June 22, 1937, died September 17, 2013) was an amazing Australian jazz musician. He played the alto saxophone. He started playing music in the late 1950s. He kept performing, writing music, and recording albums almost until he passed away.

Bernie won four ARIA Music Awards. These are like big prizes for Australian music. He won them between 1993 and 2001.

He led his own groups, the Bernie McGann Trio and the Bernie McGann Quartet. In the Trio, he played alto sax, John Pochee played drums, and Lloyd Swanton played bass. For the Quartet, Warwick Alder joined them on trumpet.

Bernie McGann's Music Journey

Bernie was born in Granville, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. He became well-known in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He played modern jazz with other musicians at a place called the El Rocco Jazz Cellar in Sydney.

He worked closely with drummer John Pochee for many years. Their musical partnership was very important.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Bernie also played with rock and pop bands. He was a 'session musician,' meaning he played on recordings for other artists. In the 1970s, he was part of the Sydney rock-soul band Southern Comfort.

In 1974, Bernie helped start a jazz group called The Last Straw.

Between 1980 and 1982, Bernie played as a supporting musician for famous jazz artists from the United States. These included Freddie Hubbard, Lester Bowie, and Dave Liebman.

In 1983, Bernie went to New York to study music. He received a special grant from The Australia Council to help him.

In 1988, Bernie toured Australia and the USA with the Australian Jazz Orchestra. This was a special project for Australia's Bicentennial celebration. He was also featured in a documentary film called Beyond El Rocco, which won awards.

Bernie McGann passed away on September 17, 2013. He was 76 years old. He had complications after heart surgery.

Awards and Recognitions

Bernie McGann received many awards for his amazing music. These awards celebrated his talent and contributions to jazz.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are big yearly awards for Australian music. They started in 1987. Bernie won several of these.

Australian Jazz Bell Awards

The Australian Jazz Bell Awards are special awards for jazz music in Australia. They began in 2003.

Don Banks Music Award

The Don Banks Music Award started in 1984. It honors a very important artist who has made a huge difference to music in Australia. Bernie McGann was the first non-classical musician to win it.

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards celebrated live entertainment in Australia. Bernie McGann won three of these awards.

See also

In Spanish: Bernie McGann para niños