Bernie Brausewetter...BB & the Stingers

mark norwine · April 17th, 2007, 03:04 PM

Sadly, I must tell you all that Bernie Brausewetter passed away on Sunday afternoon, complications from recent illnesses.

Bernie was a monster player on the scene here in the tri-state {NJ-NYC-CT} area. With a strat in his hands, he could shake the world.

More than that, he was a great friend to an awful lot of musicians.

Sail on my friend, I will miss you.

hankseiz · April 17th, 2007, 03:53 PM

Wow. Thanks for that, Mark. The only guitar lessons I've ever had were from Bernie, jeez, 30 years ago? Won't ever forget ya, Bernie.

Daddydex · April 17th, 2007, 04:11 PM

Sorry for you loss guys.

Dan

cycler · April 17th, 2007, 05:49 PM

this is sad news....saw him play on LBI a couple times...glad I had the opportunity to do so...

hekawi · April 17th, 2007, 06:41 PM

i'll always remember his group leading off the list of names in the lyrics of "Life is a Rock" by Reunion:

Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)
By: Reunion
(Norman Dolph-Paul DiFranco-Joey Levine)
1974

B. B. Bumble and the Stingers, Mott the Hoople, Ray Charles Singers
Lonnie Mack and twangin' Eddy, here's my ring we're goin' steady
Take it easy, take me higher, liar liar, house on fire
Locomotion, Poco, Passion, Deeper Purple, Satisfaction
Baby baby gotta gotta gimme gimme gettin' hotter
Sammy's cookin', Lesley Gore and Ritchie Valens, end of story
Mahavishnu, fujiyama, kama-sutra, rama-lama
Richard Perry, Spector, Barry, Rogers-Hart, Nilsson, Harry
Shimmy shimmy ko-ko bop and Fats is back and Finger Poppin'

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me
Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me
Life is a rock but the radio rolled me
At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie

FM, AM, hits are clickin' while the clock is tock-a-tickin'
Friends and Romans, salutations, Brenda and the Tabulations
Carly Simon, I behold her, Rolling Stones and centerfolder
Johnny Cash and Johnny Rivers, can't stop now, I got the shivers
Mungo Jerry, Peter Peter Paul and Paul and Mary Mary
Dr. John the nightly tripper, Doris Day and Jack the Ripper
Gotta go Sir, gotta swelter, Leon Russell, Gimme Shelter
Miracles in smokey places, slide guitars and Fender basses
Mushroom omelet, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, stop and kick it

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me
Life is a rock but the radio . . .

Arthur Janov's primal screamin', Hawkins, Jay and Dale and Ronnie
Kukla, Fran and Norma Okla Denver, John and Osmond, Donny
JJ Cale and ZZ Top and LL Bean and De De Dinah
David Bowie, Steely Dan and sing me prouder, CC Rider
Edgar Winter, Joanie Sommers, Ides of March and Johnny Thunder
Eric Clapton, pedal wah-wah, Stephen Foster, do-dah do-dah
Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Surfer Girl and Little Honda
Tighter, tighter, honey, honey, sugar, sugar, yummy, yummy
CBS and Warner Brothers, RCA and all the others

Life is a rock but the radio rolled me
Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me
Life is a rock but the radio rolled me
At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie

Listen (remember) they're playing our song

Rock it, sock it, Alan Freed me, Murray Kaufman, try to leave me
Fish, and Swim, and Boston Monkey, make it bad and play it funky

(Wanna take you higher!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

johnnylaw · April 17th, 2007, 06:56 PM

A blue day gentlemen... Bernie was a warm soul and swell guy. Also an erudite connoiseur of those things Fender. And what a player. Once past the shock and awe, Bernie would leave another player hungry with inspiration. A master.

RIP

mark norwine · April 17th, 2007, 10:29 PM

A nice obituary from the Home News Tribune:

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...=2007704170409

hankseiz · April 18th, 2007, 04:03 PM

Man. I'm sorry but I couldn't let this go. Even though our paths took us different ways long ago, this is the guy that's been my reference point for anything I try to do on guitar. I was a self-taught guy up to the time I took lessons from him in the 70's because he had a reputation as a knock-out player, even back then.

We were the same age, but I always felt like I was in the presence of an older, wiser, more centered guy. Very patient and kind.

The last time I saw him was at my last lesson. I wouldn't blame him if he forgot about me since then, but I don't pick up a guitar without thinking about something he taught me. Wish I had a chance to tell him.

mark norwine · April 18th, 2007, 10:36 PM

Today's obit in the Star Ledger brought tears to my eyes. I'm really gonna miss him.

Brutalblues · April 19th, 2007, 06:11 PM

R.I.P. Bernie

"....see you in the next world, don't be late!"

Ingreevox · April 19th, 2007, 08:59 PM

My fondest memories of being a student of Bernie B, was sitting in his basement, having a smoke...his monster cup of coffee, and his new band the Stingers. Attaboy was over, and he had great ideas for the Stingers. He was very proud.
I owe everything to Bernie B, how to play, how to make the guitar speak, and man, how to be cool.
I was young, and I never heard a guy speak like that, with all his cool phrasings, and just be a very down to earth guy. I wanted to be Bernie.
I wanted to make my guitar talk , like he made his!
As I got older, and found my success in music, I always touted Bernie as my mentor, the guy who showed me the way, and helped me be a good player.
One night in Asbury Park, 10 years ago, my group was on the same bill as the Stingers. We were still nobodies, but I told my boys to watch MY Teacher, and see what I learned. Of Course he was great. My band was awed. I felt like a novice in his presence, but Bernie never treated me that way. He was a big hearted guy.
Later, as I was touring, we lost touch, but by a freak mishap with my new wife, I ran into him and his Mom at Target, and we got reaquainted for a spell.
He looked bad, but still the same relaxed bernie B I loved.

I look at my playing, my gear, my strats and realize the guitar hero who had the biggest influence on me, and the player I have become is Bernie B.
He really got me to where I am, and I owe alot to him and his teaching, and his persistance. I will never forget him.

April 17th, 2007, 03:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
mark norwine Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 50 Posts: 1,382	Bernie Brausewetter...BB & the Stingers Sadly, I must tell you all that Bernie Brausewetter passed away on Sunday afternoon, complications from recent illnesses. Bernie was a monster player on the scene here in the tri-state {NJ-NYC-CT} area. With a strat in his hands, he could shake the world. More than that, he was a great friend to an awful lot of musicians. Sail on my friend, I will miss you. __________________ "Progress is not possible without deviation from the norm." Frank Zappa

April 17th, 2007, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Daddydex Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,825	Sorry for you loss guys. Dan __________________ Teles are like Mr. Potato head

April 17th, 2007, 06:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
hekawi Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 2,083	RIP BB i'll always remember his group leading off the list of names in the lyrics of "Life is a Rock" by Reunion: Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me) By: Reunion (Norman Dolph-Paul DiFranco-Joey Levine) 1974 B. B. Bumble and the Stingers, Mott the Hoople, Ray Charles Singers Lonnie Mack and twangin' Eddy, here's my ring we're goin' steady Take it easy, take me higher, liar liar, house on fire Locomotion, Poco, Passion, Deeper Purple, Satisfaction Baby baby gotta gotta gimme gimme gettin' hotter Sammy's cookin', Lesley Gore and Ritchie Valens, end of story Mahavishnu, fujiyama, kama-sutra, rama-lama Richard Perry, Spector, Barry, Rogers-Hart, Nilsson, Harry Shimmy shimmy ko-ko bop and Fats is back and Finger Poppin' Life is a rock but the radio rolled me Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me Life is a rock but the radio rolled me At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie FM, AM, hits are clickin' while the clock is tock-a-tickin' Friends and Romans, salutations, Brenda and the Tabulations Carly Simon, I behold her, Rolling Stones and centerfolder Johnny Cash and Johnny Rivers, can't stop now, I got the shivers Mungo Jerry, Peter Peter Paul and Paul and Mary Mary Dr. John the nightly tripper, Doris Day and Jack the Ripper Gotta go Sir, gotta swelter, Leon Russell, Gimme Shelter Miracles in smokey places, slide guitars and Fender basses Mushroom omelet, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, stop and kick it Life is a rock but the radio rolled me Life is a rock but the radio . . . Arthur Janov's primal screamin', Hawkins, Jay and Dale and Ronnie Kukla, Fran and Norma Okla Denver, John and Osmond, Donny JJ Cale and ZZ Top and LL Bean and De De Dinah David Bowie, Steely Dan and sing me prouder, CC Rider Edgar Winter, Joanie Sommers, Ides of March and Johnny Thunder Eric Clapton, pedal wah-wah, Stephen Foster, do-dah do-dah Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Surfer Girl and Little Honda Tighter, tighter, honey, honey, sugar, sugar, yummy, yummy CBS and Warner Brothers, RCA and all the others Life is a rock but the radio rolled me Gotta turn it up louder, so my DJ told me Life is a rock but the radio rolled me At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie Listen (remember) they're playing our song Rock it, sock it, Alan Freed me, Murray Kaufman, try to leave me Fish, and Swim, and Boston Monkey, make it bad and play it funky (Wanna take you higher!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- __________________ ____________________________________________ "Rule Number One: Obey All Rules" - Barney Fife

April 17th, 2007, 10:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
mark norwine Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 50 Posts: 1,382	A nice obituary from the Home News Tribune: http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...=2007704170409 __________________ "Progress is not possible without deviation from the norm." Frank Zappa

April 18th, 2007, 10:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
mark norwine Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 50 Posts: 1,382	Today's obit in the Star Ledger brought tears to my eyes. I'm really gonna miss him. __________________ "Progress is not possible without deviation from the norm." Frank Zappa

April 17th, 2007, 03:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
hankseiz Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 162	Wow. Thanks for that, Mark. The only guitar lessons I've ever had were from Bernie, jeez, 30 years ago? Won't ever forget ya, Bernie.

April 17th, 2007, 05:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
cycler Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: new jersey Age: 58 Posts: 198	this is sad news....saw him play on LBI a couple times...glad I had the opportunity to do so...

April 17th, 2007, 06:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnnylaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New England Age: 51 Posts: 310	A blue day gentlemen... Bernie was a warm soul and swell guy. Also an erudite connoiseur of those things Fender. And what a player. Once past the shock and awe, Bernie would leave another player hungry with inspiration. A master. RIP

April 18th, 2007, 04:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
hankseiz Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 162	Man. I'm sorry but I couldn't let this go. Even though our paths took us different ways long ago, this is the guy that's been my reference point for anything I try to do on guitar. I was a self-taught guy up to the time I took lessons from him in the 70's because he had a reputation as a knock-out player, even back then. We were the same age, but I always felt like I was in the presence of an older, wiser, more centered guy. Very patient and kind. The last time I saw him was at my last lesson. I wouldn't blame him if he forgot about me since then, but I don't pick up a guitar without thinking about something he taught me. Wish I had a chance to tell him.

April 19th, 2007, 06:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
Brutalblues Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 1,181	R.I.P. Bernie "....see you in the next world, don't be late!"

April 19th, 2007, 08:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ingreevox NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: palmer pa Posts: 1	Bernie B and Me. My fondest memories of being a student of Bernie B, was sitting in his basement, having a smoke...his monster cup of coffee, and his new band the Stingers. Attaboy was over, and he had great ideas for the Stingers. He was very proud. I owe everything to Bernie B, how to play, how to make the guitar speak, and man, how to be cool. I was young, and I never heard a guy speak like that, with all his cool phrasings, and just be a very down to earth guy. I wanted to be Bernie. I wanted to make my guitar talk , like he made his! As I got older, and found my success in music, I always touted Bernie as my mentor, the guy who showed me the way, and helped me be a good player. One night in Asbury Park, 10 years ago, my group was on the same bill as the Stingers. We were still nobodies, but I told my boys to watch MY Teacher, and see what I learned. Of Course he was great. My band was awed. I felt like a novice in his presence, but Bernie never treated me that way. He was a big hearted guy. Later, as I was touring, we lost touch, but by a freak mishap with my new wife, I ran into him and his Mom at Target, and we got reaquainted for a spell. He looked bad, but still the same relaxed bernie B I loved. I look at my playing, my gear, my strats and realize the guitar hero who had the biggest influence on me, and the player I have become is Bernie B. He really got me to where I am, and I owe alot to him and his teaching, and his persistance. I will never forget him.