There are so many
sidemen out there today. Most of them are quietly making their way
through life supporting the headliners. They are content to back-up
these outstanding musicians without their own notoriety. However, these
musicians…the support staff, if you will…are the meat and potatoes
of this industry. They give us listeners the groove and the beat that
keeps us going – and coming back for more.
One of the busiest sidemen in the business these days is bassist André
Berry. In recent days, André has been touring with Dave Koz, Rick Braun
and Mindi Abair. In his past, he has supported the likes of Warren Hill,
Peter White, Jeff Golub, Tom Scott, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas,
George Johnson of the Brothers Johnson, and a host of others. André
continues to be one of the most sought after bass players in the
industry.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, André was destined to be a musician.
His family consisted of a classical pianist, a church organist, a
trumpeter and a singer. After stints with the piano, drums and guitar,
he picked up the bass at 16 years old. Remembering the first time he
played in front of an audience, André notes, “It was a natural
experience for me. I remember thinking ‘I’m not nervous…I wonder
why?’ And also the feeling hit me that I had the least experience of
all the guys I was playing with, but I had the most enthusiasm. So, I
knew I was going to be doing this no matter what.” Enthusiasm is an
understatement. The groove is in his heart and truly comes out in every
show he plays. André believes that the bass provides the foundation for
the groove of the band and is more than thrilled for the chance to
provide it.
Influenced in the early days by Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson,
Larry Graham of Sly & The Family Stone, Verdine White of Earth, Wind
& Fire, and his mentor, Sekou Bunch, André is the definition of
funk. Even the backside of his bass has the word “FUNK” written on
it. André is determined to always keep the funk alive, and is doing his
part through his band, The Deep Fried Funk Society. “Growing up in
Ohio, I was exposed to great funk bands which are now an extinct species.
If you play instruments now in R&B music, it is pretty much a curse.
So I decided I was going to try to keep the flame burning for the
old-fashioned funk band with horns and guitars and bass and drums and
vocals. It is my thing. I write all the songs and play a lot of the
instruments, yet I do have some friends who lend their talents to the
‘Society.’ It is a labor of love, and if it goes nowhere, that
really doesn’t matter to me. It is about expression and staying true
to what I know should still be a viable music category in Black music.
‘The Band’… Now you pretty much are limited to singing or rapping…Oh,
well…My mission continues. They won’t hold me down!!”
André also says that what keeps the funk and the groove going are the
fans. “I love to see people’s faces light up and enjoying the music!
I don’t think people realize how much musicians feed off that. When a
crowd is dry with a vibe of ‘impress me’ or ‘we’re dressed too
nice to dance and party,’ it makes the night long, hard and
un-energetic! But when the crowd is ready to party, and you feel the
energy coming back, it makes you want to play incredibly and please
them.”
And please us he does. André grabs hold of the fans regardless of who
the headliner is. Maybe it’s the dancing, or maybe the thumping of
those strings, or maybe the electric personality. Whatever the reason,
André makes his presence known at every performance with amazing talent,
usually showcased at some point in a solo.
Being a sideman of this stature has served André Berry well. His talent,
his groove and the funk that is electrifying crowds everywhere, is
something that I personally look forward to. Whoever the headliner might
be is sure to have an excited, partying crowd when André “Funk”
Berry hits the stage!
© Bonnie Schendell
Published with permission of Bonnie Schendell
ANDRE R. BERRY
HAS PERFORMED/RECORDED/TOURED WITH:
DAVE KOZ
WARREN HILL
TOM SCOTT & THE LA EXPRESS
MINDI ABAIR
THE BROTHERS JOHNSON
RICK BRAUN
PETER WHITE
JEFF GOLUB & AVE. BLUE
EVERETTE HARP
STEVE FERRONE
MARK ANTOINE
CHRIS STANDRING
CRAIG CHAQUICO
JEFF KASHIWA
MARILYN SCOTT
LORI PERRI
PAUL JACKSON JR.
EUGE GROOVE
JENNIFER BATTEN
HARVEY MASON
TERRY LYNNE CARRINGTON
SOPHIE B HAWKINS
YAMAHA GUITARS
TLC
THE BUSBOYS
TRACY SPENCER
MARTHA REEVES
CHUCK LOEB
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
TOTAL ECLIPSE
RAYFORD GRIFFIN
AL WILSON
TINY TIM
PAUL BROWN
