Alfred Aloysous Bernard, known as Al Bernard, was an influential American vaudeville singer born on November 23, 1888, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He passed away on March 6, 1949, in Manhattan, New York. Bernard, often referred to as "The Boy From Dixie," gained prominence from the 1910s through the early 1930s. He began his career in minstrel shows, performing in blackface, and was one of the first white singers to record blues songs, significantly contributing to the genre's development.

Bernard's recording career started around 1916, and he became known for his renditions of W.C. Handy's songs, including a notable version of "St. Louis Blues," which Handy praised for its success. Bernard recorded for multiple labels, including Edison, Victor, Okeh, and Brunswick. He was sometimes billed as "The Singing Comedian" and was the first American singer to record "Frankie and Johnny" in the United States.

Throughout his career, Bernard collaborated with various artists, including Ernest Hare, with whom he recorded duets where Bernard often sang the female parts. He also worked with J. Russel Robinson and Vernon Dalhart, and co-wrote songs with Jimmy Durante. His 1930 recording of "Hesitation Blues" with the Goofus Five is considered a precursor to the western swing style.

Bernard's work has been reappraised for its influence on modern popular music forms, despite the minstrel show's controversial legacy. He continued to record into the 1940s, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry.