It seems as though Mike’s always been a bassist. Electric, acoustic, six-string, standing – he’s equally at home with any of these instruments in his hands. His sponsors find him an enthusiastic artist and his fans find him a passionate performer. He’s composed his own music, collaborated with some of the biggest names on the music scene, and he’s recently started to spread his love of music by teaching. It’s everywhere in his life and his joy is apparent to all who know and work with him.

Mike originally hails from the San Francisco Bay area. He started out jamming along with records in his garage. From the beginning he knew it was love. By age 15 he was on the road opening for some of the west coasts best punk bands. Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, TSOL, The Faction and many more. Curius about the blues, and wanting to play more, Mike started sneaking into blues jams and soaking up the music on a deeper level. He tells a story of meeting Johnny Lee Hooker and Junior Wells one fateful night.

“I was heading into a jam I’d been unofficially going to for several months, The guy at the door put his hand on my chest and said, ‘Not tonight, man. Private party with John Lee and Junior Wells, invite only". Well just about then, a guy came outside to get some air, he asked me, "Hey, is that a bass you got with you?" I said " it is, I thought there was a jam tonight, but the guy a the door wont let me in." The guy just looked a the door man and said "I'm not playing until my fellow bass player here comes thru the door!" As it turns out, he was John Lee Hookers bass player "Lightning". I wish I could remeber his last name. That night, Lightning played the most amazing solo, with his teeth, like Hendrix on the bass. The guitar player in the band also did the most amazing Solo. In his solo, he played one note. Just one. he kept it going for an eternity. It felt like time stopped. Every time the top of the progression would start again, still holding the same note, he'd change his emotion. You could feel the whole room change. Happy, Sad, Excited. That night I knew, really knew, it was all about the emotion in music for me.

Mike earned his playing chops in San Francisco jams but he knew where he had to go to really be a part of the scene - New York City. He packed up and headed east with more songs than money. He worked hard and got noticed. He felt like he played every single club in New York, and he probably wasn’t far off! Always the hard worker, Mike filled his time between being on stage with numerous pursuits. He scored two independent films that enjoyed worldwide showings. His artistic soul found another outlet in mastering woodwork. He was cast in several soap operas, often playing live. But, for him, it was always about the music.

Eventually, he got his first European tour. That led to tours in places he’d never imagined. Twenty seven countries in one year. He contiued this pace for nearly ten years. He worked in an incredibly diverse set of musical styles including: blues, soul, rock, hip hop, jazz-fusion, ambient, and drum n bass. Always bringing creativity and good vibes to the gig.

Mike has shared the stage with such greats as Johnny Winter, Pinetop Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnnie Johnson, Pops Dixon of the Holmes Brothers, Van Walls, John Mayall, Dr. John, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s, Joe Bonnamassa, The Spin Doctors, Jerry Mercer of April Wine, Living Colour, Will Calhoun and Doug Wimbish HeadFake. To name a few! Mike also acted as Bass Tech and Tour Manager for Living Colour for several years.

Mike has studied at The Bass Collective in NYC. Also with Mike Mannring, Victor Bailey, Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Chuck Rainey at Victors Bass Nature Camp. Also with Gary Willis, and Gerald Veasley at Geralds Bass Bootcamp. Mike studied privately with Doug Wimbish for several years.

Mike Bernal makes his permanent home on a bucolic mountainside in Vermont. It is the easy pastoral tranquility, the strength of the mountains, the singing streams and the beauty of his surroundings that feed his creative soul.