College of Liberal Arts  |  for Prospective Students  |  for Undergraduate Students  |  for Graduate Students   |   Research  |   for Faculty  |   Departments
PERFORMING ARTS › faculty

Mario Perrett

Born in Bethlehem, PA, Mario started playing the sax at the age of 7, as therapy for a severe respiratory condition brought on by a childhood illness. By the age of 10 he began to study privately. Mario was awarded a partial scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. After five years of study, he graduated with honors earning a B.A. in Music Education. While at Berklee he studied saxophone with Billy Pierce, Paul Wagner and George Garzone. Later he went on to study with Jerry Bergonzi. Since graduation in 1989 Mario has been pursuing a career in music both as an instructor teaching at The Musical Suite in Newburyport and as the Saxophone Chair at UMass Boston and also as a freelance performer.

Until recently he played and managed in his original rock band, Signs of Life. During that time Signs of Life released two independent CD’s and toured the US in support of them. Currently Mario is performing with several area bands. Primarily he is playing locally with The Evan Goodrow Band. He is also busy touring at home and abroad with Tone Cool recording artists The Love Dogs. You can also find him every Monday night with Jose Ramos in the house band at Boston’s oldest jazz/blues club Wally’s Café.

From 1989-96 Mario learned the ropes of the Boston Blues scene by playing with Chris “Stoval” Brown in the house band, (The Stoval Brown Band), at Harpers Ferry for their popular Sunday night blues jam. Because of this exposure Mario was able to meet and play with many of Boston’s finest musicians. His blues driven, funky saxophone has been in demand from studios and bands in and around Boston ever since. He has played with a variety of bands obscure and renown such as: The Rick Russell Band, Mighty Sam McClain, Luther “Guitar” Johnson Jr., Michele Wilson & Evil Gal Orchestra, The Racky Thomas Band, Shirley Lewis, Wilbur and the Dukes, Madeline Hall and the Rhythm Hounds, Toni Lynn Washington, Frankie Lee, Little Wolf and the Mojo’s, Sax Attack, The Wrecking Crew, Boston Baked Blues, Ken Clark, Mike DeBarry Sextet, Little Joe Cook, Earing George Mayweather, Stoptime, The Swingin Johnsons, The Booty Band, Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish, Weepin Willie. As well as sharing bills with: B.B.King, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughn, Bobby Rush, Roy Gaines, Steppenwolf, Grand Funk Railroad, The Pat Travers Band, Van Halen, The Spin Doctors and The Dave Matthew’s Band.

Classes:



Office: (Ex: McCormack, 2-6xx
Email: first.last@umb.edu
Phone: 617-287-xxxx
Office Hours: