The name “Twos Guys” is in deference to Bernie’s New York roots, where they say “Yous guys” a lot. Claude was thinking one day about how a New Yorker would refer to two guys playing jazz. “Twos Guys” readily came to mind. Bernie Berke, on tenor sax, flute and clarinet, has taught music for over 30 years in the Livermore School System. He teaches privately now, and has performed in numerous bands and combos over the years, including a performance with the lead trombone player of the Jay Leno Band. He first got his musical start from his dad, who was a professional musician.

Bernie’s dad, Phil Berke, gave Bernie, at the age of 11 years old, his first trumpet lesson. Phil played with many fine musicians, including Doc Severinsen and Tony Bennett. Bernie’s brother Herb, a sax player, and has always been an important source of inspiration. Bernie picked up the woodwind instruments shortly after playing trumpet. He attended Juilliard School of Music immediately following high school. After graduation from this conservatory, he joined the Air Force Band to fulfill his active duty requirements. After his service time, Bernie attended Fresno State College to get his Masters of Music and teaching credential. He performed with the Fresno Philharmonic Symphony during this time. Bernie and his wife Linda have been married for 37 years. They have two daughters, Tara and Pam. Linda also is a private music teacher, teaching piano for the past 20 years. Claude Camp, on guitar, came from a family of professional jazz and classical musicians in Texas. His father, “Red” Camp, who passed in 1987, was a well known jazz pianist in Texas, having played with Bob Crosby, Jack Teagarden, Paul Whitman, Mugsy Spanier, Miff Mole, and Pee Wee Russell. “Red” had his own TV and radio program in the 70’s where he taught jazz history and technique, and his 11 LPs can be found on the Smithsonian web site in the FolkWays collection. Claude’s brother Alex, who has played with the Woodie Herman band, still plays bass in Dallas and was once voted #1 jazz bassist in Texas by the Texas Jazz Monthly Magazine. Claude’s mother, Alvis, taught classical piano at U.T Austin and Del Mar Jr. College for decades, and had perfect pitch. Claude picked up a few tricks of the trade while living at home with all these professionals, but was taught at an early age that if you pursue music as a career, you might not know where your next meal will come from. Hence, he pursued Math and Computer Science in high school and college, playing guitar constantly but only for fun and amusement. He has been a software engineer in Silicon Valley for the past 25 years, and has played at numerous jam sessions over the years, sharing the stage with such notables as Smith Dobson, John Nichols, and more recently Mimi Fox. He has racked up a 26 year marriage with wife Ann, and has two daughters, Sara (24) and Lizzy (18).