Bernard Sylvester Addison (April 15, 1905[1] – December 18, 1990) was an American jazz guitarist.
After moving to Washington, D.C. in 1920, Addison played banjo, first with Claude Hopkins.
[1] He then moved to New York City[1] and worked with Sonny Thompson and recorded for the first time in 1924.
In the 1920s and 1930s, he played with Louis Armstrong, Adelaide Hall, Fletcher Henderson, Bubber Miley, Art Tatum, and Fats Waller, and recorded with Red Allen, Coleman Hawkins, Horace Henderson, Freddie Jenkins, Sara Martin, Jelly Roll Morton, and Mamie Smith.
[1] He performed at the Newport Jazz Festival with Eubie Blake[1] in 1960 and recorded a solo album.