Jerry Mercer
Jerry Mercer (born April 27, 1939 in Newfoundland) is a Canadian rock drummer, best known for his work with the groups Mashmakhan and April Wine.
Personal life
Prior to becoming a full-time musician, Mercer worked both as a cattle farmer and as an IBM computer programmer.
Music career
Mercer's start in the music industry was as a singer, but quickly moved to drums while still a teenager [1]. He played several different styles in his early years, including latin and jazz, before becoming a member of a Montreal-based band known as The Triangle, who later changed their name to Mashmakhan upon obtaining a record deal in Toronto. Mercer's work can be heard on the band's most successful single "As The Years Go By."
Following Mashmakhan's dissolution in the early 1970s, Mercer played in The Wackers before joining April Wine, who were changing their line-up following the departure of two founding members. His first public performance with the band was as an opening slot for T.Rex and Three Dog Night at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. Shortly thereafter he completed his first album with the band, Electric Jewels, which contained the hit Weeping Widow. Mercer has remained with the band consistently since joining, and has played on all their subsequent albums and tours.
In his live shows, Mercer is known for lengthy drum solos (often during April Wine's cover of King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man) which frequently include a strobe light show.
In addition to performance, Mercer is also involved in manufacturing of drums in a company he started called Monolith Drums.[2]
Health
In 1997, Mercer was diagnosed with prostate cancer [3], but finished treatment for it the following year.