[1] A native of Toledo, Ohio, Nix was introduced to music in childhood and began playing the guitar at eleven years old.

He listened intently to jazz guitarists, including Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Raney, Barney Kessel, and Charlie Christian.

Nix then led a trio with bassist Bill Zola and drummer Adrian Valosin from October 1994 — December 2005.

In 2013, the Bern Nix Quartet, featuring Francois Grillot, Reggie Sylvester, and Matt Lavelle, released Negative Capability.

[4] He also worked with Jayne Cortez, Marc Ribot, Elliott Sharp, Jemeel Moondoc, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and John Zorn.