Jon Schwartz (drummer)

Jon Schwartz
Born Jon Schwartz
(1956-08-18) August 18, 1956
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupation Drummer, web producer
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Website www.bermudaschwartz.com

Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz (born August 18, 1956) is a drummer best known for working with the singer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic. The two met while recording "Another One Rides the Bus" at the Dr. Demento show on September 14, 1980.[1] Shortly after, Yankovic invited Schwartz to join his band, gave him the nickname "Bermuda" (a play on words of tropical apparel Bermuda shorts) and they have worked together ever since. Schwartz is heard and/or seen on all of Yankovic's albums, videos, and concerts.

Early life

Although born in Chicago, Schwartz grew up in Phoenix. He came from a musical family; his father played accordion, his mother was a singer and piano player, and his brother, session guitarist and producer Richard Bennett, has recorded with countless top artists in Los Angeles and Nashville, and enjoyed lengthy associations touring and recording with Neil Diamond and Mark Knopfler.

Schwartz began drum lessons in 1965, and when his family moved to Los Angeles a few years later, he had decided to become a professional drummer and by the mid-1970s was drumming regularly with a few bands and doing some recording work.

Later life

Schwartz first met "Weird Al" Yankovic at the Dr. Demento Show on KMET in Los Angeles, September 14, 1980. He has played drums for every "Weird Al" concert since 1981, except for three shows during the 2003 Poodle Hat Tour; a minor illness prevented him from playing the drums, and bassist Steve Jay's friend and collaborator Pete Gallagher, who was working as a tech on that tour, sat-in on the drums while Schwartz handled the electronics, cues, and vocals from behind the drum riser.

Schwartz is also the official band historian, known for keeping meticulous lists and notes, and has archived an unsurpassed collection of unique retail and promo audio and video products from around the world that feature "Weird Al" Yankovic either as a performer, director, in a cameo appearance, or named or pictured on the product. Schwartz has an unmatched wealth of photos, memorabilia, and details on his career with Yankovic, and is regularly sourced for rare and behind-the-scenes images or other materials and information for TV shows, publications, and audio and video releases having to do with Yankovic.

In between Yankovic projects, Schwartz continues to play with other L.A.-area artists and bands and has worked with Rip Masters, Jim Silvers, Karling Abbeygate, Idle Hands, Ray Campi, Raymond and Scum, ApologetiX (specifically the album Biblical Graffiti, where he played drums on seven of the tracks[2]), Lousy Little Gods, Brian Sisson, and The Zero G Band.

Schwartz has enjoyed a respectable online presence since 1993. Schwartz began designing web sites in 1995, and grew it into a side-business that now includes other graphic design work such as CD layouts and book cover art. He also created the official "Weird Al" Yankovic website in 1995, which later became weirdal.com. He continues to maintain it, along with his own site and several others. He is an administrator for the World of "Weird Al" Yankovic Forum, and regularly participates in various drum-related forums under the name "bermuda".

Personal life

Schwartz and his wife Leslie live in Los Angeles with their dogs Pepper and Nigel.

Discography

Album title Release year
"Weird Al" Yankovic 1983
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D 1984
Dare to Be Stupid 1985
Polka Party! 1986
Even Worse 1988
"Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits 1988
UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff 1989
Off the Deep End 1992
The Food Album 1993
Alapalooza 1993
Permanent Record: Al in the Box 1994
Greatest Hits Volume II 1994
The TV Album 1995
Bad Hair Day 1996
Running with Scissors 1999
Poodle Hat 2003
Straight Outta Lynwood 2006
Internet Leaks 2009
Alpocalypse 2011
Mandatory Fun 2014
Single Release year
You're Pitiful1 2006
Whatever You Like1 2008

^1 The "You're Pitiful" and "Whatever You Like" singles were released as digital downloads only.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1984 "Eat It" Best Comedy Recording Won
1985 Dare to Be Stupid Best Comedy Recording Nominated
1987 Polka Party! Best Comedy Recording Nominated
1988 "Fat" Best Concept Music Video Won
Even Worse Best Comedy Recording Nominated
"Peter and the Wolf" Best Recording for Children Nominated
1992 Off The Deep End Best Comedy Album Nominated
2003 Poodle Hat Best Comedy Album Won
2006 Straight Outta Lynwood Best Surround Sound Album Nominated
Best Comedy Album Nominated

Gold and platinum records

Recording Gold Platinum Double
Platinum
"Weird Al" Yankovic U.S.
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D Canada
U.S.

U.S.
"Eat It"1 Australia
Canada
U.S.
Dare to be Stupid U.S. U.S.
Even Worse Canada
U.S.

U.S.
"Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits Canada
Off the Deep End Canada
U.S.
Canada
U.S.
The Food Album U.S.
Alapalooza Canada
U.S.
Canada
 
Canada
 
Greatest Hits Volume II Canada
Bad Hair Day Canada
U.S.
Canada
U.S.
Running With Scissors Australia
Canada
U.S.


U.S.
Straight Outta Lynwood U.S.
"White & Nerdy"2 U.S. U.S.

^1 The "Eat It" single reached the #1 position on the Australian singles chart in 1984.

^2 The "White & Nerdy" single was certified platinum for digital downloads and gold for ringtone downloads in the U.S.

References

  1. "Hat Tricks". Dallas Observer. August 7, 2003. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  2. apologetix.com

External links

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