Bernie Chiaravalle (pronounced "shaira valley") is a California native now making his home in Nashville, TN since 1998. He has been playing guitar and singing with Michael McDonald since 1988.
Bernie grew up in Marin County playing in various bands sharing the bill with other Bay Area bands like Huey Lewis and the News, The Tubes, The Sons of Champlin and Clover.
In the early 1980's he migrated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in songwriting. He soon met up with David Pack of Ambrosia and they began writing together. Bernie co-wrote "Sky Is Falling" which appears on Ambrosia Antholgy and "Light My World" which can be found on David's Unborn CD.
When Michael McDonald was searching for a new guitar player in 1988, it was David Pack who suggested Bernie to his longtime friend. Bernie has been with Michael ever since and has co-written several songs with him as well. Blue Obsession, released in 2000, has 4 songs co-written by Bernie and he also produced 2 songs. One of those songs "No Love To Be Found", was recently re-released on Michael McDonald: The Ultimate Collection on Rhino Records in 2005. Bernie has also played on several other McDonald records including Motown 2, which certified Gold.
He is currently writing and producing an album for Amy Holland McDonald to be released in 2006.
