Mike Corrado

BIO:

Writing from the heart, incorporating life experiences and story telling are extremely critical elements in order to take an audience on a journey and that is exactly what Mike Corrado accomplishes as a singer/songwriter.  He incorporates what he knows into his own blend of music that some in the music industry have referred to as New Country, Pop, Rock and Americana. When asked directly what style of music Mike composes and performs Mike simply calls it “American Music.” 

In addition to some of his fun, feel good tunes, Mike has crafted songs like the inspirational “Still in the Fight” which addresses the challenges of recovery faced by many wounded warriors and their resilience throughout the recovery process.  In “Stand” Mike pays tribute to service men and women past present and future as well as the families that stand behind them. “On My Watch Tonight” Mike tells the story of a Marine’s journey from Boot Camp to the front lines, which became an anthem for service men and women around the world. Mike's songs have now been viewed and listened to over 1 million times from official live videos, fan memorials and tributes.  These songs and others have received national attention and have been featured on major television networks such as Great American Country, CMT & CMT Pure, The Nashville Network, Armed Forces Network, ACM All Star Salute to the Troops & more. 

Service, Music, Passion. Mike Corrado understands service, sacrifice and crafting songs with a purpose. Mike, a singer-songwriter and recently retired active duty U.S. Marine Infantry Officer starting out performing as a solo artist when he was first stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  Living on the beaches in Eastern, NC, Mike began playing beach bars up and down the coast.  After five years in the Marines, Mike left to pursue music full time but not the last he’d see of the Corps. 

He soon had a band and was traveling the Eastern seaboard playing dive bars, menu-venues and opening up for national acts such as Edwin McCain, Train, Hootie & the Blowfish, Derek Trucks Band and more.  Releasing two EPs, a studio album and a live album, Mike was on the verge of his fifth release when the attacks of September 11th occurred.  That fifth album was released September 12, 2001 with a full tour to follow.  The events of the day prior soon after saw Mike returning to active duty.  Mike continued to write, record and perform when he able to include during a year long deployment to Fallujah Iraq in 2005.  Two months prior, Mike released his album “Falling Awake” which featured the song “On My Watch Tonight” featuring Edwin McCain.  The song started to get heavy radio play in NC while another song “Get By” was licensed by Sony/Tristar and used in the hit TV show Joan of Arcadia. 

Upon return in 2006, Mike signed his first publishing deal and soon after, was featured in Rolling Stone in February 2008. That same year, Mike released his album “Start Saving Me” filled with songs he started writing in Iraq.  In 2009, while stationed in, Hawaii, Mike was asked to open up for the Black Eyed Peas.  A few months later, Corrado recorded a four song EP titled “Stand.”  He shot the video for the single “Stand” at Marine Corps Base, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii which later aired on CMT and other video outlets.   Interviews on CNN and other print/TV and radio followed as well as an opening spot for Bon Jovi in Hawaii for the kick off to the “The Circle” world tour. 

From Hawaii, Mike was transferred to Quantico, VA where he served as the Executive Officer for the Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment.  It was there Mike got the inspiration to write “Still in the Fight” an anthem for recovering service members and the struggles they face in recovery.  The music video was shot in and around Greenville, South Carolina at a studio owned by friend and multi-platinum artist Edwin McCain.  The video featured several Marine wounded warriors Mike served with including Cpl William Kyle Carpenter who later received the Medal of Honor, MSgt William “Spanky” Gibson and Cpl Aaron Mankin who served with Mike in Iraq and took the photo used in the Rolling Stone feature.  The video was aired on Great American Country and Armed Forces TV. 

In 2013, Mike headed to Nashville to record his EP “What You Work For.” Shortly after he was chosen by the Marine Corps, Department of Defense and Dick Clark Productions to represent the Marine Corps at the Academy of Country Music: All Star Salute to the Troops where he performed on National TV along side Toby Keith for his song “Call A Marine.” Later that summer Mike Joined Toby during his tour for a repeat performance at an amphitheater in St Loius. 

In 2014, Mike was featured in Taylor Guitar’s national advertisement campaign “Step Forward: Music is Waiting” for his songwriting and music therapy work with wounded warriors. 

Mike Corrado also started Grunt Tunes, a music production studio to help out other service members and his local community write, record and release music. Grunt Tunes is networked with other studios in MD, Nashville, NC and Los Angeles and a host of musicians to help his clients find the sound they are looking for.  For more, please visit Grunt Tunes.