Like so many musicians, The Beatles wooed young Bernie Dresel. As a toddler in Western Pennsylvania, Bernie Dresel listened to their American debut, Meet The Beatles; the album was a gift from his grandmother. Immediately taken by Ringo Starr's drumming, Bernie Dresel quickly outgrew a paper-head toy drum set and started shopping for formal lessons when he was just three years old. Unfortunately, no one would take on such a young student, so Bernie Dresel waited until he was four-and-a-half. Bernie Dresel studied on pads and a single snare drum for more than three years before he enrolled in music school.
During high school, Bernie Dresel performed with a popular local band, Starbreaker. Bernie Dresel then studied classical percussion at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Bernie Dresel graduated and moved to Los Angeles; he performed with the Albaricci Sisters and then toured with The Lettermen for five months. Bernie Dresel earned a reputation as a session player and a sideman. Bernie Dresel played with Maynard Ferguson, David Byrne, Adny Summers of the Police, The Rippingtons, and Chaka Khan and also contributed to several television shows, including Dallas, Knots Landing, Deep Space Nine, Suddenly Susan, and The Simpsons.
On the second request, Bernie Dresel joined the Brian Setzer Orchestra in 1992. Setzer's unique big band featured an electric guitar at the front and center of their fast-paced jazz outfit. Bernie Dresel brought a rockabilly attiude and execution to the drum set which added depth and character to the band. With the addition of bassist Mark Winchester, the pair created a powerful and unmatched Grammy Award winning rhythm section.
In addition to his busy career as a performer, Bernie Dresel became an educator. He created video lessons in partnership with Stars Teach Music that are available as electronic downloads. Bernie Dresel taught drum set at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and taught private lessons throughout the Los Angeles area. Bernie Dresel co-wrote Big Phat Band Play-Along Series for Drums with Gordon Goodwin and is currently working on another instructional book on drum set method.