Bernie Drayton

Bernard Drayton's 48-year in the music industry began in his Native New York, after his graduation from Boys High in Brooklyn. Beginning in 1963 as a recording engineer with Magno Sound, Bernard recorded music and location sound for films and for such television shows as Candid Camera and ABC Sports specials. 

While at Magno Sound, he also became associated as producer and program director with radio station WLIB, the first commercial all-jazz station in New York City. There he was responsible for producing and programming music and specials. 

It was while producing WLIB’s Del Shield’s show that Bernard captured the New York club performances which became the nucleus of his live jazz recording collection, in which the last live recording of JOHN COLTRANE was captured.

In 1968, he went on to join Herman Edel Associates, a premier production house of music for commercials, rising to the level of Vice President for sales, promotion, and production. 

Under his auspices, HEA created music for a wide variety of clients including Proctor and Gamble, TWA, Pepsi Cola, Burger King, McDonald's and the Miller Brewing Company. 

Recognizing the growing alienation in the marketplace by minority groups long ignored by many sponsors, Bernard created a new division at HEA to produce commercials for ethnic audiences. 

The growing affluence and more demanding purchasing power of Afro-Americans and Hispanics found a gap in the advertising of major products for this market, and Bernard has fostered a new awareness among the advertisers, following through by servicing them with appropriate music for their message.