[ Jackie Bertone ]

Group // Independent

Stick  // 7/16 Hickory Timbale / Yambu Jazz

Jackie Bertone is a respected name in the music business. As one of the industry's most prolific percussionists, he has backed a list of music greats that reads like a “who's who” of platinum-selling artists. In addition, Jackie records music for film and television and has, himself, acted as musical director on a television variety show.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, it soon became obvious that Jackie was musically inclined. As a child, he would walkaround the house tapping on everything he could find. Then, at the age of eight his mother bought him a pair of bongos, “if only to save wear and tear on the furniture” according to Jackie.

Growing up to the rhythmic sounds of popular recording stars like Tito Puente, Trini Lopez and Vickie Carr, Jackie Bertone forged a style of play that has remained his signature to this day. As a teenager, even while much younger than his musical peers, he was invited to play with many top local acts. Finally, at the age of nineteen, he landed his first professional gig, backing the legendary Tower of Power.

Jackie Bertone has covered a lot of musical ground in the more than 20 years since. Perhaps best known for his involvement with the Beach Boys (he appears on their platinum-selling album “Stars and Stripes, Volume I,”), he has also remained a constant through much of Brian Wilson's solo career (he appears on Brian's history-making effort “Imagination”). Indeed, at this writing, he is currently in studio working on Brian's latest effort. Jackie also performs with The Wilsons (formerly Wilson-Phillips).

Jackie Bertone's long history with the Beach Boys family is only part of the story. He has also performed with Michael McDonald, Stephen Stills, Joe Walsh, Jimmy Buffet, Kenny G and world-renowned reggae group Third World (recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in Music). He also performs on the gold-selling album “Free Up” by reggae masters Big Mountain (“Baby I Love Your Way”).

When he's not on stage with some of the world's top acts, you can find him in the studio recording sound tracks for movies like “Jurassic Park 3”, “Waterworld”, and “Gladiator”; and, top rated television shows like “Just Shoot Me”. Jackie was also featured in last year's #1 MTV music video by Sony Music artist Krayzie Bone (Bone Thugs & Harmony) (“Thug Mentality”) as well as the recent “A&E Biography” installment on Brian Wilson and the Disney special “The Beach Boys Nashville Sounds.”

Jackie Bertone was also featured in the innovative A&E special “HD Planet.” Performed live in Chicago, “HD Planet,” was a unique collaboration between Chicago radio legend Steve Dahl (WCKG-FM) and award-winning television journalist Bill Kurtis. It combined state-of-the-art High Definition (HD) video of nature and travel with a live music performance by renowned musicians, including Grammy Award winning performers Joe Walsh and Christopher Cross.

Jackie Bertone's career has taken him around the world. From small venues in remote locales to performing with Third World in front of 100,000 people as part of Spain's 100-year anniversary, Jackie has had a remarkable career. Indeed, he was the most viewed percussionist in the world in 1994 (14+ million people) when singer/song writer Henry Kapono and the Governor of Hawaii invited him to perform at The Rose Parade on the lead float for the State of Hawaii.

Jackie Bertone's notoriety didn't escape the notice of corporate sponsors. Currently, Jackie has endorsements with 4 of the worlds largest and most respected percussion companies (LP Music Group, Sabian cymbals, Vater drumsticks and Remo percussion) and was also featured in Billboard magazine's publication “Music Biz” on the “Business of Endorsements and Sponsorships''.

Today, Jackie Bertone faces his most difficult challenge. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in September 1998, Jackie works tirelessly on public education and the search for a cure. A favorite speaker at the Orange County, California-chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, he not only donates his time but also money earned from his family's vehicle leasing corporation. (www.premierleasinggroup.com) Jackie's outlook, “When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I had two options, either to shut down or to get pro-active with my disease, I chose the pro-active route. The way I see it, having Multiple Sclerosis, as with life itself, you are faced with roadblocks along the way. It all depends on how you choose to drive your car” Jackie's philosophy….”We have Multiple Sclerosis, it DOESN'T have us!”

Partial listing of the artist and/or groups Jackie has been associated with both recording and/or touring

Brian Wilson
Paulinho Da Costa (World Famous Percussionist)
Joe Walsh (Eagles)
Timothy B. Schmidt (Eagles)
Christopher Cross
Jimmy Webb
The Beach Boys
Juan Carlos Quintero
Branscombe Richmond
Jim Messina
The Wilson's
Bobby Caldwell
Third World
Christopher Cross
Big Mountain
Jeff Porcaro
Henry Kapono
Maynard Ferguson
Cecilio & Kapono
Justo Almario
Michael McDonald
David Benoit
George Duke
Brian Bromberg
Stanley Clarke
Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire)
Dave Koz
Marc Russo
Tower of Power
Jimmy Buffet
Earth, Wind & Fire
Richard Elliot
Kenny G.
Ron Powell (Kenny G / Madonna)
Hiroshima
Freddy Ravel
Peter Cetera (Chicago)
Jimmy Fadden
Rippington's
Giovanni Hidalgo
C&C Music Factory
Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting)
Steven Stills
Lenny Castro (Fleetwood Mac)
Sam Riney
Luis Conte (Phil Collins)
Boney James
Amblin Entertainment (Stephen Speilberg)
Seawind
Pauline Wilson
Paramount Studios (Pictures)
Universal Studios (Pictures)
Jingles
Cable Projects
Anastacia
Jon Gibson
Santana percussion section
Network Television Projects
Willie Nelson
Lorrie Morgan
Colin Raye
Doug Supernaw
Junior Brown
Sawyer Brown
A&E
Sony Television
Disney Cable
NBC
MTV
VH1
BET
TNN (The Nashville Network)
Yellow Jackets
David Sanborn
Gerald Albright
Maxi Priest
Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Santana)
Entertainment Tonight
E! Television
Karl Perazzo (Santana)
Raul Rekow (Santana)
Wyland (Artist)
Leroy Neiman (Artist)
Kenny Rogers

www.jackiebertone.com