On October 24, 2015 we gathered to say goodbye to and celebrate the life of our friend, mentor, and teacher Michael J. Cahill. For those who could not attend, this is a portion of that celebration provided by the Middlesex County Volunteers Fife & Drum group.

About Mike

Drummer. Set drummer and Asst Instructor for MassBrass(2008 Mini Corps Champions). Percussion Instructor-Defenders Reunion Drum & Bugle Corps, Rockland, MA. Brass Instructor of The Legends of Drum Corps. Percussion Instructor-Boston Crusaders Sr Drum & Bugle Corps 2001-2003. Percussion Instructor-Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps 1990-1996. Snare drummer-Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums, 1986-2008. DCI Judge 1969-1990. Director of Bands-Quincy HS 1972-1981. Director of Music-Xaverian Brothers HS 1963-1972. Director of Music-Ursuline Academy 1969-1972. Percussion Instructor-U Mass Lowell Marching Band 1980-1983. Percussion Instructor U New Hampshire Marching Band 1972-1976. Percussion Instructor-U S Coast Guard Academy-1976-1978. Percussion Instructor Wilmington-Beverly Cardinals-1973-1974. Percussion Instructor Wilmington Youth Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps 1969-1973. Various gigs on drum set playing for: Al Hibbler, Myrna Pagan, Juanita Hall, The Drifters, The Fabulous Playboys, The Mixed Bag, Harry Murphy Big Band, etc.

Started the corps-style marching band movement in New England at Quincy HS in 1972. Staff percussion writer for the Hal Leonard Publishing Co Corps Impact Series 1978-1983. Inducted into the Mass, Drum & Bugle Corps and Music Educators Hall of Fame, April 25th, 2009. Author of “Developing Corps Style Percussion”-Hal Leonard Publishing Corp., 1980. Author of “A Brief History of Drum & Bugle Corps”-The Instrumentalist, June 1982.

Something about me that most people don’t know-about 12 years ago I was marching in a parade playing snare drum with the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums. There was a group of young people watching the parade. I noticed a clump of horse manure fast approaching. I did my little sashay move to avoid the horse manure much to the dismay of the young people watching. It occurred to me that these young people did not care about the hundreds of hours of rehearsal and individual practice that we had put in to attain the high level of performance that we were able to demonstrate. Nor did they care how we looked, Incredible military bearing, and thousands of dollars worth of historically accurate uniforms. All they cared about was whether or not one of us would step in the horse shit! The thought of this festered in me to a point where after the parade, I sought out the equestrian unit, and in my gentle and polite manner asked them why they didn’t have a chase wagon(as they do in other states) follow the unit and clean up after themselves. Why, I asked, did they think it was OK for them to soil the parade route to the detriment of all of the units that had to follow them. I continued doing this, each time getting less polite and less gentle. At some point, the equestrian unit leaders began hiding when they saw me approaching. Finally, after berating them for having no respect for their fellow paraders, one by one, they began employing chase wagons to clean up after themselves. So, the next time you, or your children, or your grandchildren are in a parade, and you or they don’t have to march through piles of horseshit, you can thank me. Beers are always a good choice.

VIEW VIDEO SOURCE