Berne Folk Singer from Decatur, GA

Berne hails from Spartanburg, S.C. She began performing, singing and playing guitar in local haunts in Spartanburg at the age of 14, and was inspired by such local talents as David Ball, Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood (of the legendary Uncle Walt?s Band). After graduating from The College of Charleston with a BA in voice, Berne found a home in the Atlanta music scene. A long-time aficionado of the classic female jazz vocalists, she was invited to join The EZ Credit Orchestra. EZ Credit was a noted Atlanta ensemble, which specialized in 30?s and 40?s jazz. She still occasionally sings jazz with some of the Southeast?s top musicians. Berne has maintained a regular gig at The South of France restaurant, in Atlanta, for sixteen years. Besides her originals, she sings songs from Joni Mitchell and Edith Piaf to Fats Waller and Bob Dylan. As a solo performer, she has shared the stage with such legends as Odetta, Dave Van Ronk, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Tom Rush, Billy Joe Shaver, Tom Russell and Chris Smither. Berne's alter ego is the lovable and laughable 'Frenchy' in the longstanding Atlanta band Cowboy Envy. Along with her saddle pals Dede Vogt, Kathleen Hatfield, and Rodger French, she gets to sing, dress up, crack her whip and generally ham it up. The band has toured extensively, from Florida to Alaska (and almost everywhere in between). They have played many famous venues and festivals including the Kennedy Center, Spoleto Festival, Music Fest in Pennsylvania, Music Midtown, Detroit Arts Festival, etc. The band has appeared at many colleges, theaters and coffeehouses. Along the way, they have performed with the likes of Indigo Girls, Shelby Lynne, Sweethearts of the Rodeo and Riders In The Sky. Their tight harmonies and entertaining performances have garnered a great deal of recognition. Some of Berne?s original songs are part of the Cowboy Envy songbook. She has recently completed a new CD of all original material, ?Language Of Dreams?, which was co-produced by Dede Vogt of Cowboy Envy. The songs cover a wide range of styles (from Western Swing to Ballads to Country to Rock) and are a strong presentation of her skills as a songwriter. The recording utilizes the talents of many musician friends that Berne has worked with over her career. She is looking forward to even more projects in the future, including a recording of Jazz vocal standards.