[3] Nero made his television debut at the age of 17, playing "Rhapsody in Blue" on a special hosted by Paul Whiteman.

[3] He recorded his first album under the name of Bernie Nerow in July 1957 on the Mode label (MOD-LP117), which shows his technical virtuosity in the jazz genre.

Hailed as one of the premier interpreters of George Gershwin, Nero starred in the Emmy Award-winning S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous, S'Gershwin (1972).

[5] Other TV credits included performances on PBS-TV's Piano Pizzazz and with the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., on its July 4 special titled A Capitol Fourth.

[3] The title song, which was sung by Mel Torme, has been recorded by over two dozen vocalists, and the score was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Hollywood Reporter Award.

[citation needed] He also made an appearance in the film (playing himself) which co-starred Jane Fonda, Rod Taylor, Robert Culp, and Cliff Robertson.

Nero worked with notable musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Arthur Fiedler, Andy Williams, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur, Johnny Mathis, Roger Kellaway and Elton John.

His first wife was childhood sweetheart Marcia Dunner, with whom he had two children, Beverly and Jedd, and three grandchildren: Robert, Nicole and Gordon.