26:) was an actor and singer/musician. While his birth name was Bernard Knee, most music industry magazines spelled his name Bernie Nee, which was also how his name was spelled on most of the recordings he issued during the 1950s. Knee was born and raised in the Bronx, the son of Louis and Celia Knee. He was a 1948 graduate of New York University, and became interested in performing while serving in the Navy during World War II. A versatile musician, he played guitar, piano and bass in addition to being a vocalist. He performed at some of New York's biggest clubs, including the Copacabana, the Riverboat, and Michael's Pub. In addition, he became known as an accomplished demo singer who made more than 5,000 demo recordings for songwriters in many genres. His biggest top-40 hit was one where his name did not appear: he was in a studio group called the Five Blobs. This band was assembled in
83:, where The Five Blobs released two 45s in 1959: "From the Top of Your Guggle (to the Bottom of Your Zooch)" backed with "Rockin' Pow Wow," and "Juliet" b/w "Young and Wild." He continued to record, make demos, and sing in New York area clubs into the mid-1960s. For example, he worked on "Sixteen Cubes of Sugar" (by
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Bernie Nee was not listed on any of the promotional materials for the film or the record. To protest this oversight, Nee bought advertisements in music industry trade publications, showcasing his name, whereupon he was terminated from
Columbia. Nee signed with
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for example, Bernie Nee, "When I See You With
Somebody Else," (Cadillac Records).
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consisted of a song entitled "Saturday Night in
Tiajuana" credited to Bacharach.
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In 1979, he relocated to
Florida, where he died of cancer in 1994, at age 70.
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111:'s fight to avoid impeachment. He also made appearances on the
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John
Gittelsohn. "Bernard Knee, 70, Recorder, Composer."
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John
Gittelsohn. "Bernard Knee, 70, Recorder, Composer."
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and his
Orchestra on a 45pm Telemark single, written by
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22:(Feb. 14, 1924, New York City – Nov. 20, 1994,
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367:United States Navy personnel of World War II
60:and became a hit, peaking at No. 35 on the
52:'s brother), the tune featured a prominent
207:Paul Buiar. "Song Tryouts Done Via Disc."
71:on the regional LA charts. The single's
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169:"Bernie Nee Discography - USA - 45cat"
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253:"A Great New Star on the Horizon,"
67:in November 1958. It also hit the
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181:"All Five Blobs are Bernie Nee."
56:part. The single was released on
133:Let's Fly! Flight Inspired Music
325:"That's What I Call True Love"
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117:Broadway cast album (1979),
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372:New York University alumni
292:South Florida Sun-Sentinel
196:South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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268:Joy Records discography
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362:American male singers
357:American male actors
222:"The Hot 100 Chart"
209:Portland Oregonian
89:Howard Greenfield
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352:1994 deaths
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308:Bernie Knee
127:(1980) and
97:Carole King
85:Jack Keller
81:Joy Records
28:Los Angeles
20:Bernie Knee
341:Categories
129:Max Conrad
46:Mack David
255:Billboard
241:Biography
227:Billboard
183:Billboard
63:Billboard
54:saxophone
50:Hal David
114:Ballroom
37:The Blob
330:YouTube
302:Sources
156:Cashbox
124:Trilogy
69:Top Ten
65:Hot 100
73:B side
142:Notes
34:film
312:IMDb
87:and
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