Drummer and vibraphonist. Born c. 1941.
Sweetney attended Dunbar High School and earned a degree in art education at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He also completed a master’s degree at Howard University.
Recorded with Shirley Horn in 1965 and 1972 and performed with her trio. In 1967-1968 he was a member of Jimmy Smith’s trio along with guitarist Nathen Page. He recorded and toured with Roberta Flack for four years, appearing on two albums. He recorded numerous times with Andrew White from 1974 to 1979. In this same period Sweetney was ubiquitous at Harold’s Rogue & Jar, as both leader and sideman.
Sweetney relocated to Delaware and continues to be active as both a performer and a visual artist.
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Beatty, Ross, Jr. “Inner Harmony and a Driving Ambition.” Washington Post, January 23, 1977.
Beatty, Ross, Jr. “Sweet Bernard.” Unicorn Times, July 1976.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Bernard Sweetney.” Washington Post, October 30, 1982.
I loved Bernard. Wrote an article about him in the Washington Post. Have often thought about him.
A great musician, a great person.
I had the pleasure of working with Bernard quite often with piano great Reuben Brown. We were an item as a trio in DC in the 1980s, playing at the One Step Down, and Harold’s Rogue and Jar. I aced him on a gig with Phil Woods in Baltimore as well. Absolute wonderful drummer. Hope he still alive and well. Steve Gilmore bassist.