About the Author

Mike Merolle is a master's student in journalism at Hofstra University and a St. John's University graduate. Merolle is of Italian, Ukrainian, and Peruvian descent. Merolle's father, Michael, is a fourth-generation immigrant who grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Merolle's mother, Astrid, immigrated from Lima, Peru, at 11 years old. Merolle was born on September 11, 2001, in Manhattan, where he'd live for a few years until moving to Long Island.

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Growing up predominantly around the Peruvian side of his family, Merolle found himself at age 17 wanting to rekindle the Italian roots in his bloodline. He learned pieces of the culture and language, but the music stuck out to him. Merolle discovered legends of jazz who were Italian-American, such as Louis Prima, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and his favorite, Dean Martin. Merolle grew an admiration for their romantic style of music and ventured outside the Italians to other musicians. He enjoys the relaxing, free, and emotional tunes the genre offers and believes it'll make a strong comeback. 

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Merolle made this capstone to prove the genre is on the rise and to encourage young people to give it a try. In good times and bad, it'll put a smile on your face.

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"Music is life itself. What would this world be without good music?"

- Louis Armstrong