Songwriter. He wrote the music for the perennial Christmas classic "Winter Wonderland" (1934). The lyrics were by Dick Smith. Felix William Bernhardt was born in Brooklyn into a musical family, and became a professional pianist in his teens. His first taste of success was with "Dardanella" (1919), co-written with Johnny S. Black and Fred Fisher, and one of the first records to sell 1 million copies. During his checkered vaudeville career Bernard performed as a tap dancer, led his own band, and supplied material for Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, and Sophie Tucker; he later settled in Hollywood and worked on such films as "The Nitwits" (1935), "Tuned Out" (1935), "The Star Maker" (1939), "Shooting High" (1940), and "Top Sergeant Mulligan" (1941). His other songs include "You Opened My Eyes", "Jane", "What Am I Goin' to Do for Lovin'?", "Twenty One Dollars a Day Once a Month", and "I'd Rather Be Me". "Winter Wonderland" was originally written for Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians and reached the number two spot on 1934's Hit Parade. It then faded from view until 1946, when Perry Como and the Andrews Sisters recorded rival versions for the holiday season. Bernard and Smith had both passed on by then and never saw their tune become a cherished Yuletide favorite. Incidentally, "Winter Wonderland" doesn't mention Christmas at all - it's a song about romance in the wintertime.
Songwriter. He wrote the music for the perennial Christmas classic "Winter Wonderland" (1934). The lyrics were by Dick Smith. Felix William Bernhardt was born in Brooklyn into a musical family, and became a professional pianist in his teens. His first taste of success was with "Dardanella" (1919), co-written with Johnny S. Black and Fred Fisher, and one of the first records to sell 1 million copies. During his checkered vaudeville career Bernard performed as a tap dancer, led his own band, and supplied material for Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, and Sophie Tucker; he later settled in Hollywood and worked on such films as "The Nitwits" (1935), "Tuned Out" (1935), "The Star Maker" (1939), "Shooting High" (1940), and "Top Sergeant Mulligan" (1941). His other songs include "You Opened My Eyes", "Jane", "What Am I Goin' to Do for Lovin'?", "Twenty One Dollars a Day Once a Month", and "I'd Rather Be Me". "Winter Wonderland" was originally written for Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians and reached the number two spot on 1934's Hit Parade. It then faded from view until 1946, when Perry Como and the Andrews Sisters recorded rival versions for the holiday season. Bernard and Smith had both passed on by then and never saw their tune become a cherished Yuletide favorite. Incidentally, "Winter Wonderland" doesn't mention Christmas at all - it's a song about romance in the wintertime.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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