Wayne Bergeron is enjoying a career as one of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Studio sessions, film dates, international touring, jazz concerts, guest appearances and clinics keep him busy not only in his hometown of Los Angeles, CA, but worldwide.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1958, Bergeron came to Los Angeles at age 1, so he considers himself a native Californian. Originally starting on French horn, he switched to trumpet in seventh grade and found he had natural upper register ability. Bergeron credits his junior high and high school teachers Ron Savitt and Bob Smith for molding his talent into practical working skills.
Bergeron first caught the ear of many when he landed the lead trumpet chair with Maynard Ferguson's band in 1986. Bergeron can be heard on Maynard's recordings Body and Soul, Big Bop Nouveau, Brass Attitude and The One and Only Maynard Ferguson. Bergeron demonstrates daily why Maynard remarked, "Wayne is the most musical lead trumpet player I've had on my band."
As a sideman, Bergeron's list of recording credits reads like a "who's who" in contemporary jazz and pop, running the stylistic gamut from Ray Charles to Green Day. Other names include Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Michael Bublé, Dirty Loops, Seth MacFarlane, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Seal, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Christina Aguilera, Dianne Reeves, Michael Bolton, Earth Wind & Fire, The Pussycat Dolls, My Chemical Romance, The Mars Volta and many others.
Bergeron has worked on over 400 TV and motion picture soundtracks. A partial list of film credits include Incredibles 2, La La Land, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Crazy Rich Asians, The First, Smallfoot, The Predator, Sing, Moana, Frozen, Rocky Balboa, Bridge of Spies, Get on Up, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, Planes, Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2.
Bergeron's passion for big bands has led to his inclusion in some of Los Angeles' most well-respected bands. He has recorded and played with Quincy Jones, Gordon Goodwin, Arturo Sandoval, Pat Williams, Sammy Nestico, Jack Sheldon, Chris Walden, Tom Kubis, John La Barbera, Bob Florence, Ray Anthony, Bill Watrous and Bob Curnow.
After being behind the scenes for so many years, Bergeron stepped out on his own with his first solo effort, You Call This a Living?, in 2012. This debut project earned him a Grammy Award nomination in 2004 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album as well as rave reviews from fans and press worldwide. Bergeron's second CD, Plays Well with Others, was released on the Concord Jazz label in 2007 and was met with the same acclaim. Full Circle was released in January 2016.
Bergeron is a Performing Artist for the Yamaha Corporation of America and is co-designer of the YTR-8335LA Trumpet and YFH-8315G Flugelhorn.
Bergeron was mentored by legends like Uan Rasey, Bobby Shew, Warren Luening, Gary Grant, Rick Baptist and George Graham. He hopes to inspire a new generation of young players and enjoys his work as a clinician and educator. "Nothing makes me feel more accomplished than hearing a young musician say that I inspired them or had a positive influence on their life. For me, that's the real payday." Bergeron is on faculty at California State University, Northridge.
