The opening fanfare ended and his band hovered over their instruments, ready to start the show on cue, as they had done for over a thousand performances. But the signal never came. Instead, Billy Ray Cyrus stood at the front of the stage. “Who was that band that opened the show? They were great! They got me outta’ my bus!” Thousands yelled back, “Bernie Glim and CRB!!” Cyrus, thanking the crowd, exclaimed, “If I ever get back to where I was a few years ago, they can open all my shows!” The critical acclaim doesn’t stop there. During a concert with the Ides of March, the great singer/songwriter Jim Peterek met the band as they were coming offstage. “Your song, “Hold On Fast”, gave me chills!” he acknowledged. “Great stuff!” In opening a show for Alabama, the most successful country band of all time, Jeff Cook, Alabama’s great guitarist, couldn’t help but bound onstage to rock it out with them. And at a Chicagoland benefit concert, Bernie and CRB joined Kansas on stage to perform Glim’s arrangement of the great Jackie Wilson song, “Your Love Is Lifting Me Higher”.
Bernie Glim and CRB is one of the Midwest’s premier country rock bands. A seven-piece band of master musicians and songwriters, their latest album, “Playin’ to Win” was recently voted #7 of top ten regional CD’s. Glim blends country, rock, blues and jazz with passion and patriotism and never fails to entertain audiences with heart, humor and all-around great music.
Band members credits include:
Bernie Glim- (band leader, guitar and vocals) studied at the American and Chicago Conservatories of Music. When not performing his own shows, he was the guitarist for Engelbert Humperdink, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydel. He has written and produced two albums for Sugar Island Records.
Tom Gurney- was the guitarist for Freddy Fender’s Midwest tour and backed up US99.5’s John (Katman) Katzbach.
Al Joseph- was the violinist on Freddy Fender’s Midwest tour and played violin with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. He has recorded with Allison Krause.
John Falstrom- was the bassist for Del Shannon, Brenda Lee, and Lou Christie. He has been voted #1 Blues Bassman by the Chicago Blues All-Stars for 11 years straight.
Vernon “Woody” Woodward- was the drummer for Jerry Jeff Walker and Dave Dudley.
Karen Glim (vocals, percussion, frattoir and keyboard) co-wrote and co-produced two albums for Sugar Island Records and holds a Masters degree in Music.
Rachel Glim (vocals, percussion) holds a BA in Music and Theater from North Central College and was voted Best Actress three years straight.