Nassau, Bahamas – Breaking news coming into Bahamas Press confirms the passing of Bahamian entertainer, Count ‘Da Count’ Bernadino after a long illness. He was 91. He passed away at Doctors Hospital.

Originally from Norman’s Castle, Abaco Bernadino gained his singing and guitar skills in Nassau, Jamaica and New York.

He landed his big break after he relocated to New York in 1947. As he worked in a restaurant as a dishwasher, the establishment’s owner realized his talent and let him perform for customers during his breaks.

During that same time, Bernadino joined together with a group of other Caribbean musicians and enrolled with them at the New York School of Music.

They later formed the Bacchanals Band and had the opportunity to tour America for the next few years. Bernadino returned to The Bahamas in the mid-1950’s, where he performed frequently at clubs and other well-known night spots.

The country’s Development Board, now known as The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, later recruited him to tour internationally with the goal of attracting more visitors to The Bahamas.

Count Bernadino was given a Cacique Award and is known for his famous song “Calypso Bacchanal”, which was recorded in 1962 and played throughout the hotels of Nassau at the time.

BP joins Bahamians in celebrating his life and prays that his soul rests in peace.