Berkeley Fudge

James Berkeley Fudge (tenor saxophonist and flutist) was born in Milwaukee on November 28, 1937. He attended Lloyd Street School, Lincoln Junior High School, and North Division High School, where he excelled in gymnastics and music. While still in high school, he performed with Leonard Gay’s big band. After graduating in 1956, he played alto sax with Little Beau’s group, later switching to tenor sax as his primary instrument. He studied with Bunky Green and Willie Pickens and was influenced by local tenor saxophonists Hattush Alexander and Bobby Burdette. Soon, he was performing at clubs such as the Celebrity Club, The Flame, Ranchos, the Rio, and the Seville. Berkeley formed a group that included, for a time, vocalist Little Jimmy Scott.

In addition to music, he worked various day jobs, including five years at American Motors during the 1960s. He frequently collaborated with guitarist Manty Ellis, who, in the early 1970s, arranged for him to teach at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where Berkeley taught for nearly 40 years.

For decades, Berkeley led bands, usually quartets, performing at countless venues and festivals. He spent his entire playing career in Milwaukee and was one of the city’s most beloved and influential musicians. He was known for taking long, creative solos and never repeating himself. His style was rooted in bebop-oriented players such as Hank Mobley, but he developed an individual approach incorporating more modern influences. He also appeared with notable artists such as Sonny Stitt, Lena Horne, Gene Ammons, Roland Kirk, Don Patterson, and Ruth Brown, among many others.

In 1996, he was featured at the Pabst Theater in a concert by Barry Harris. He also performed with and was a founding member of the group We Six, and can be heard on their 2005 album, Bird Say.

He suffered a stroke in November 2010, which prevented him from continuing to play and teach. He is one of the most significant players and educators who made a career in Milwaukee, and his legacy lives on.

Check out Berkeley performing “All the Things You Are” with Manty Ellis on guitar, Billy Johnson on bass, and Mark Johnson on drums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7FXBgeklSM