Will Bernard, born on December 31, 1949, is an American guitarist and band leader. In the 1980s, Bernard began his professional music career as a member of the Hieroglyphics Ensemble led by Peter Apfelbaum. He later formed the band T.J. Kirk with Charlie Hunter and John Schott in San Francisco during the 1990s. The band's name was inspired by James Brown, Thelonious Monk, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with notable artists such as John Ellis, John Medeski, Stanton Moore, and Jai Uttal. Bernard received a Grammy Award nomination for the album If Four Was One in 1997, which he recorded with T.J. Kirk. His discography includes albums like Motherbug (2000), Blue Plate Special (2008), and Ancient Grains (2021).
