About the Author

Mike Merrett Photo
Author
Michael
Merrett Michael Merrett is a former insurance professional but his passion for creative outlets led him to part time positions as a newspaper columnist and marching percussion instructor/arranger. He also served as a member of the Massachusetts Judges Association for marching bands and drum corps from 1979-1984.
He hails from Gary, Indiana but has lived the majority of his life in Massachusetts. Some of his newspaper columns have been reprinted for inspirational use by teacher’s unions and parents groups throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts. He has traveled extensively, including recent trips to Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, Thailand, and Ireland and these experiences have greatly enriched his views on international affairs.
The marching musical units he has been involved with such as the North Star and Malden Diplomats have enjoyed tremendous competitive success throughout North America in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.
He is a current member of the Knights of Columbus and Lions International. He served on the Board of Directors with the Wyoma Lions of Lynn, Massachusetts where he was the recipient of the Charles Kostro Fellowship Award. He earned the prestigious Melvin Jones Award in 2017 as the result of his years of work with the Essex County Lions. His literary works have been featured in Lions International Magazine, the Lynn Item, the Haverhill Gazette, the Lakelamd Ledger and Sci-Fi Magazine. He also works to support national organizations such as the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
His first book is a memoir which chronicles the experiences of Mike and his brothers as they forge ahead while contending with the myriad of emotional and physical difficulties associated with vision loss. His failing vision has resulted from conditions known as Retinitis Pigmentosa and Macular Degeneration. Slipping Into Darkness was recorded in 2013 by the National Library of Congress and is now available as an audiobook through Talking Book Libraries throughout the country. His second offering, “The F.O.G.” represents his first journey into fiction. It is an ambitious story of a man bent on forcing humanity to change its course. His third offering is a venture into the mystifying world of sci-fi. "Klaatu's Return" was inspired by the 1951 script to the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still." His fourth book ‘Musings for the Common Man’ marks a return to his roots as an op/ed columnist.
In 2009 he began his career as a songwriter at the age of 55. He released his first CD "Calling on Everyone" in 2011. Michael was inducted into the Mass. Drum Corps and Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2015. He currently resides in Lynn, Mass. where he continues to pursue his passion for music and the literary arts.

MARCHING CREDITS
(snare drummer)
Immaculate Conception Band -Everett, MA 1965-72
Immaculate Conception Reveries Drum and Bugle Corps -Revere, MA 1972-75
North Star D+B Corps -North Shore, MA 1976 TEACHING CREDITS
(Head percussion arrangeer/instructor unless otherwise noted)
IC Band -Everett, MA 1973
Ambassadors D+B Corps -Malden, MA 1976-1978*
(*shared Ambassador's head position with Tom "Jumbo" Shaheen)
Royal Marquis D+B Corps -Malden/Arlington, MA 1979
Ambassadors Jrs. -Malden, MA 1979 (Arranger only)
North Star D+B Corps -NorthShore, MA 1980-81 (assistant only)
Diplomats D+B Corps -Malden, MA 1980-83
Somerville High School Band -Somerville, MA 1983
North Reading High School Band -N. Reading, MA 1983
Old Orchard Beach High School Band -OOB, ME 1983
East Coast Jazz D+B Corps -Malden, MA 1989-92
Swampscott High School Band -Swampscott, MA 2012
Member Mass. Judges Association 1979-1984 All Captions

CLICK HERE to hear an audio recording of 1979 Royal Marquis

Julie and Mike
Mike and wife Julie(RIP) in 1994 photo Mike with the Legacy drumline
Mike playing with the 'Legacy" drum line, 2014 Mike, Erin, and Matt
Mike with step-son Matt
and his girlfriend Erin in San Diego, 2013

Mike receiving his Charles Kostro Fellowship Award

Team 'The FOG' at the 2014 Boston Vision Walk supporting
the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
From R-L, Megan Lawler, Michael Merrett, Julie Buckley, Tom Buckley, Al Jones,
Leon Rich, Claire Lawler, Kellie Capurso and Henry Fitzgerald.

2015 Mass. Drum Corps Hall of Fame Banquet
From L to R, Alfred Solombrino, Jerry Corrodino,
Michael Merrett

Michael receiving the Melvin Jones Award in 2017