About Doris Merritt

One of Doris Merritt’s earliest memories was of a Sunday afternoon when she was four years old. She sat down on the bench of the family’s upright piano, opened her father’s music and started to play. She had no instruction, but did it instinctively. She has been playing ever since.

She started earning money performing when she was 14 years old by playing for exercise classes at the YMCA, fashion shows, church events and socials, and many events at a YWCA in the Boston area. Later, as a young wife and mother she supported the family as a musician when her husband went back to school to further his education. When the marriage ended she became a full time professional entertainer to support her three little boys. She played in hotels, lounges, restaurants, country clubs, and at weddings, receptions, cocktail and holiday parties and social events and as an accompanist for professional singers and groups for 30 years. She has often joked that she has played for everything but burlesque.