Mary Gaines Bernard
Encyclopedia
Mary Gaines Bernard is an American
singer best known for her work with sister, Donna Summer
.
, and her parents, the late Andrew and Mary Gaines, raised their 6 children as devout Christian
s.
The family worshiped at Boston's Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church
, and it was here that their love of music was nurtured.
In the late 1960s, Bernard's sister, Donna, was offered a role in the European cast of the hit musical, Hair
. Donna returned to the U.S. in late 1975 as her song, Love to Love You Baby
, was climbing the charts. Donna's first headlining tour was in 1976, and Mary along with sister Dara joined Donna's band as back-up singers. Gaines marriage to Gerardo Bernard which produced 5 children, most notably famed romance novelist Gerardo LTD Bernard; writer of Falling From Grace
or his widely popular children series.
Bernard remains as one of Summer's back-up singers, and is most known to fans for the duet she sings with Donna on the hit record, No More Tears (Enough is Enough)
.
In 1978 Bernard, along with sister Dara, and Carlena Williams formed the short lived group, Sunshine
. They have a song(Take It To The Zoo) featured on the soundtrack
to the movie, Thank God It's Friday
, and they worked on songs for an album titled Watch'n Daddy Dance. This album was never released.→
The three singers continued to tour with Summer through her 1981 tour, and Mary along with Dara toured with their sister through 1987. Since 1989 Mary has continued to tour with her sister often joined by her brother-in-law, Bruce Sudano
, and Yvonne Hodges as back-up vocalists.
Currently, Bernard works with the music ministry at the Calvary Chapel
, in Fort Lauderdale
, Florida
. She has also released her first solo recording, [You Made It], which features contemporary Gospel
songs. In 2007, she recorded a Christmas
song, Make December Stay, that has been featured on YouTube
.
Demographics of the United States
As of today's date, the United States has a total resident population of , making it the third most populous country in the world. It is a very urbanized population, with 82% residing in cities and suburbs as of 2008 . This leaves vast expanses of the country nearly uninhabited...
singer best known for her work with sister, Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
.
Biography
Bernard was born in Boston, MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and her parents, the late Andrew and Mary Gaines, raised their 6 children as devout Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s.
The family worshiped at Boston's Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
, and it was here that their love of music was nurtured.
In the late 1960s, Bernard's sister, Donna, was offered a role in the European cast of the hit musical, Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
. Donna returned to the U.S. in late 1975 as her song, Love to Love You Baby
Love to Love You Baby (song)
"Love to Love You Baby" is a song by American singer Donna Summer released in 1975 . It became one of the first ever disco hits to also be released in an extended form.-Song information and original release:...
, was climbing the charts. Donna's first headlining tour was in 1976, and Mary along with sister Dara joined Donna's band as back-up singers. Gaines marriage to Gerardo Bernard which produced 5 children, most notably famed romance novelist Gerardo LTD Bernard; writer of Falling From Grace
Falling from Grace
Falling from Grace is a 1992 drama film, produced by Little B and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Rock singer John Mellencamp makes his acting and directorial debut in this story by Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry. The story contains many similarities to Mellencamp's real life...
or his widely popular children series.
Bernard remains as one of Summer's back-up singers, and is most known to fans for the duet she sings with Donna on the hit record, No More Tears (Enough is Enough)
No More Tears (Enough is Enough)
"No More Tears " is a duet from 1979 by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand. While Summer was famous for her disco material and Streisand for her more easy listening and soundtrack work , this song fused both sounds with a slow beginning which then develops into a disco song...
.
In 1978 Bernard, along with sister Dara, and Carlena Williams formed the short lived group, Sunshine
Sunshine (band)
Sunshine is a disco act whose members include the real-life sisters of singer Donna Summer . Their 1978 number one Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit "Take It to the Zoo," which was featured on the "Thank God It's Friday" film and soundtrack, was co-written by Summer , who also sings...
. They have a song(Take It To The Zoo) featured on the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the movie, Thank God It's Friday
Thank God It's Friday
The triple album was, unlike the movie, a commercial success. It contained contributions from some of the biggest names in disco at the time, including Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Thelma Houston, The Commodores, and many others....
, and they worked on songs for an album titled Watch'n Daddy Dance. This album was never released.→
The three singers continued to tour with Summer through her 1981 tour, and Mary along with Dara toured with their sister through 1987. Since 1989 Mary has continued to tour with her sister often joined by her brother-in-law, Bruce Sudano
Bruce Sudano
Bruce Charles Sudano is a singer/songwriter/producer best known for his collaboration with and marriage to singer Donna Summer, and the group he co-founded, Brooklyn Dreams....
, and Yvonne Hodges as back-up vocalists.
Currently, Bernard works with the music ministry at the Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
, in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. She has also released her first solo recording, [You Made It], which features contemporary Gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
songs. In 2007, she recorded a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
song, Make December Stay, that has been featured on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
Discography
As Sunshine:- Take It To The Zoo, track from Thank God It's Friday, Original Soundtrack album, 1978, Casablanca RecordsCasablanca RecordsCasablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
. - Live and More, Live and studio album from Donna Summer, 1978, Casablanca Records.
Filmography
As Mary Bernard:- A&E Biography, Donna Summer, 1994.
- A Hot Summer Night With Donna, concertConcertA concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
video and DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, 1983, Polygram Records. - VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
Presents, Donna Summer, Live and More, Encore!, concert video, DVD, and audio recording, 1999, Sony Records. - VH1 Behind The Music, Donna Summer, 1999.
- WE NetworkWE: Women's EntertainmentWE tv is an American cable television channel that is marketed towards women. It features some original programming, such as non-fiction talk shows, as well as made-for-TV movies, older feature films, and reruns of TV shows, it also shows art and fashion documentaries and reality series....
, Intimate Portrait, Donna Summer, 2003.