Michael J. Merenda, Jr.

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Michael J. Merenda, Jr.
Mike and Ruthy in Woodstock, NY, 2007
Mike and Ruthy in Woodstock, NY, 2007
Background information
Born 1976 Durham, NH
Genre(s) folk, folk rock, old time music
Instrument(s) Guitar, banjo, ukulele, vocals, songwriter
Associated acts The Mammals, Ruth Ungar, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, Dan Bern

Michael J. Merenda, Jr. is a singer-songwriter with the American folk band, the Mammals. He plays guitar, banjo, ukulele and percussion. He also has a solo career and performs with the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band.

Merenda was raised in Durham, New Hampshire. He is married to Ruth Ungar, daughter of Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Michael grew up in Durham, New Hampshire, where his father [2] is a faculty member at the University of New Hampshire[1]. In 1998, He graduated with a creative writing degree from Bowdoin College in Maine and he then moved to New York City [2].

As a teenager Michael started out playing percussion with the band Skarotum with his brother Chris. He started playing drums in elementary school, started playing the guitar in sixth grade and picked up the banjo after he met Ruth Ungar in 1998 [3].

In 2000 Michael moved to Western Massachusetts and in 2001 he, Ruth Ungar and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger started The Mammals[4]. As well as being a member of the Mammals, Michael has an active solo career with three CDs in his own name. He was supporting act for Dan Bern in November, 2006. In 2008 Mike and Ruthy released their first duo cd,The Honeymoon Agenda, on their own record label, Humble Abode Music. [3] [5].

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Barry, John W., "Individualism Shines Through Work of Duo" Poughkeepsie Journal 21 November 2003. Retrieved:4 September 2007
  2. ^ Michael's bio http://www.michaelmerenda.com/bio.html
  3. ^ Huffman, William A. http://www.wirenh.com/Music/Music_-_general/The_Mammals_20041124176.html
  4. ^ Himes, Geoffrey "Old School" Baltimore City Paper 26 November 2004. Retrieved 4 September 2007
  5. ^ [1]"Michael Merenda Bio". Retrieved 4 September 2007

[edit] Discography

[edit] Solo

  • Trapped in the Valley (2000)
  • Election Day (2004)
  • Quiver (2006)

[edit] With The Mammals

  • Born Live (2001)
  • Evolver (2002)
  • Migration (EP)(2004)
  • Rock That Babe (2004)
  • Departure (2006)

[edit] External links

Michael's myspace page

Skarotum's myspace page