"I always kept my guitar with me": Bernie Williams opens up about secret Yankees jam sessions and music career

Two decades after stepping away from Major League Baseball, Bernie Williams is officially preparing for one of the most significant moments of his music career: a performance at Carnegie Hall in January 2026.

Bernie Williams started with informal guitar lessons in Puerto Rico and secret clubhouse jam sessions. He eventually delivered World Series celebrations and jazz albums. He also got a formal music education later. Now, he recently opened up about his music career to PEOPLE.

Bernie Williams shared,

"I always kept my guitar with me, and I used to take it to the clubhouse and to the bus rides, and to the plane rides. It was something that I always cherished and always had a great time performing in front of my teammates. I could use it for everything, when I was sad, when I was happy, when I was pumped up, when I was angry. Music served me for everything."

He continued to speak more about their jam sessions:

"We ended up having these great jam sessions, before and after batting practice and rain delays. We smuggled people in from the outside to have these great jam sessions that nobody ever knew about."

Williams also added:

"I started playing guitar around the same time I started playing baseball. I was around 8 years old."

Speaking about his parents, Bernie Williams mentioned:

"They all established some roots in Puerto Rico, where I grew up, and started taking guitar lessons, informally, when I was 7 or 8 years old. And took that for a year. That sparked my love for music."

Williams recently shared an official Instagram post to announce his upcoming Carnegie Hall show, captioning:

"On January 13, I will be taking the stage with award-winning tenor Jonathan Tetelman for a truly unforgettable evening that brings together sports, opera, and jazz on one of the world’s most iconic stages. We will be joined by some incredible special guests from the worlds of music and sports, it’s going to be a night to remember! 🎟️ Tickets are selling fast, don’t wait to be part of this extraordinary evening! 📍 Carnegie Hall, New York City 📅 January 13, 2026 🔗 Link in bio"

Bernie Williams' meeting with Bruce Springsteen

One of the most notable moments in Williams' music career came during a locker room encounter. He crossed paths with Bruce Springsteen, who is notably a Yankees fan. Williams shared:

"I have my guitar in the locker room, and Bruce Springsteen showed up, and I said, 'Well, I'm not gonna make him sign a ball or bat.' I took my guitar, and he signed it for me. He put 'Bernie, if you ever get tired of baseball ... Bruce Springsteen.'"

Bernie Williams also added:

"Twenty years later, I am playing with him on the same stage at one of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation dinners. I am playing an acoustic version of Glory Days with him and his wife. It was like a quantum leap moment. Like, 'What am I doing here?' It was amazing."

Bernie Williams' upcoming live shows

• Tuesday, January 13, 2026, New York City, NY, at Carnegie Hall (with Jonathan Tetelman, Katia Reguero Lindor, Stephon Marbury, José Reyes, Darren Rovell)
• Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Miami, FL, at Knight Concert Hall, Florida Grand Opera (with Jonathan Tetelman)

To purchase tickets, fans can visit Bernie Williams' official website.

Also Read: "Worst mistake he ever made": Netizens react as old clip of Charlie Kirk praising Candace Owens' "very rare" courage resurfaces

"You were not pregnant for the last four years": Candace Owens pushes back after Erika Kirk warns conspiracy theories could "taint jury pool"

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback