Bernie Knee

Bernie Knee (February 14, 1924 – November 20, 1994) was an actor, vocalist, and musician born and raised in the Bronx, the son of Louis and Celia Knee. Though his legal name was Bernard Knee, music industry publications most commonly rendered it as Bernie Nee, the spelling that also appeared on the majority of his recordings from the 1950s. He graduated from New York University in 1948, and his interest in performing developed during his service in the United States Navy in World War II.

A multi-instrumentalist, Knee played guitar, piano, and bass alongside his work as a vocalist. He performed at prominent New York venues including the Copacabana, the Riverboat, and Michael's Pub. He also built a substantial reputation as a demo singer, ultimately recording more than 5,000 demonstration recordings for songwriters across multiple genres. Among his demo work, he contributed to recordings of "Sixteen Cubes of Sugar," written by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield, and "That's What I Call True Love," written by Keller and Gerry Goffin, both made in collaboration with Carole King.

Knee's most commercially successful recording came under a name that was not his own. He was part of a studio group called The Five Blobs, assembled in Los Angeles specifically to record "The Blob," the title song for the 1958 Steve McQueen film of the same name. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Mack David and featured a prominent saxophone part. Released on Columbia Records, the single peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1958 and reached the top ten on regional Los Angeles charts. The B-side, "Saturday Night in Tiajuana," was also credited to Bacharach. Knee's name appeared on none of the promotional materials for either the film or the record. In response, he purchased advertisements in music industry trade publications to publicize his involvement, after which he was terminated from Columbia Records.

Following his departure from Columbia, Knee signed with Joy Records, where The Five Blobs released two singles in 1959: "From the Top of Your Guggle (to the Bottom of Your Zooch)" backed with "Rockin' Pow Wow," and "Juliet" backed with "Young and Wild." He continued recording and performing in New York area clubs into the mid-1960s. In 1974, he released "Hang In There, Mr. President" on a Telemark 45, recorded with Frank Yankovic and his Orchestra. The song was written by Henry Tobias in support of Richard Nixon during the impeachment proceedings against him.

Knee appeared on Broadway in 1978 in Ballroom, and his work was documented on the production's cast album, released in 1979. He also appeared on Frank Sinatra's Trilogy in 1980 and on Max Conrad's Let's Fly! Flight Inspired Music. In 1979, Knee relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He died of cancer there on November 20, 1994, at the age of 70.