- Hi guys, trying out my new setup here.

Thanks to John Plumley it's his fault.

So I hope I got it loud enough, so you can hear the music and not me.

But we're gonna give it a shot.

Here we go.

One, two, you know what to do.

[bright music] Oh yeah, can ya hear me?

♪ Love ♪ ♪ Is a burning thing ♪ ♪ And it makes a fiery ring ♪ - [Narrator] This is Mike Corliss.

Three years ago, he started casually performing on Facebook Live.

- Welcome back to bigger now This is only a test.

- [Narrator] This was before COVID.

- Hey, hello out there.

- [Narrator] Before everyone was doing it.

Mike was going on Facebook Live and performing on a regular basis.

♪ Everybody's waiting for the man in the bag ♪ ♪ It's Christmas ♪ ♪ It's here again ♪ ♪ That's why the lady is a trap ♪ - [Narrator] Before that, he was a local Jack of all trades master of none.

He could be seen working just about everywhere.

In and around the town of Beach Haven, where he grew up.

He was a popular guy in high school, performing in all the school productions and being crowned Mr.

Regional in the school's annual pageant.

When school came to an end, he stopped performing, his life became more about surviving.

But in finding his way back to what he loved, Mike also discovered he could have fun making a living, making other people laugh while making his way back to who he was originally.

Before life happened to him.

This is a story about figuring out who you are by figuring out who you were.

This is a success story.

This is Mike Corliss.

- I don't know, you tell me, ha-ha-ha.

- [Interviewer] Would you call this a comeback?

- You mean like my farewell tour?

Yes, it is.

It's over, I'm so lonely.

- [Narrator] Here's the story.

- I went to college for a semester or two and it just wasn't for me, you know, so to be honest I had to go out and work.

You know what I mean?

So that kind of, you know, I went that route for a little bit, you know, but after high school, I still dabbled in, some theater afterwards.

But I think always in the back of my mind you know, I always wanted to entertain.

I wasn't sure what aspect, you know, people tell me I should be doing stand up, or whatever, that kind of thing.

And so a couple years ago, things turned around for me, I was headed down the wrong path.

To be honest, the opiates got me, you know drinking and opiates got a hold of me.

And I know, that I shouldn't be here if I continued down that path, excuse me.

So, I do that every day, work to stay sober.

One of the things that you get, sorry.

You know, and I started, you know, I got sober, and started getting my marbles back, so to speak, you know and then things were moving along.

And you know, I had the opportunity to kind of start new, and I said to myself, if I'm gonna be working, let's give it a shot at something, I've always wanted to do.

And I started just singing in my garage, with my equipments doing that.

And then I started doing some little Facebook Live things you know, and people would encourage me to do that.

And so that really gave me like something to shoot for you know what I mean, again, and focus on.

I haven't quit my day job yet, I haven't made it, you know, but it's okay.

I just keep doing a little bit at a time.

And yeah, so I'm just grateful that I have an avenue to go down and to get me back into it, you know of making entertaining people, making people laugh forget their problems for just a few minutes you know.

And so that's something I'm fortunate to be able to to be doing now, so.

[indistinct chatter] - How's everybody doing guys?

We are truly blessed to grow up in this town.

[somber music] [audience applauding] So yeah, not to mention having two of the greatest grandparents.

We didn't have a lot growing up, but what I learned is you do things for other people.

There were people worse off in this town than we were.

And I've learned that from them.

- You know, seeing other people growing up in cities and stuff like that, you know you literally know every single person here.

You watch them grow up, you watch their families grow up.

You know, I guess technically you're like a family when there's such a small population in a town.

And you know what's great is we all come together.

We were there last week.

My grandmother who was actually born in Beach Haven, a few blocks away, not many people can say that.

She was born at Dr. Dods.

But you know the town came together with a couple hundred people.

And that's how this town is different.

You know, we reach out, we help each other when they're down, we're there for them when they need us.

And we all love to party.

So, and that's something, you know we grew up here, coming together to party.

Whether it's for the Beach Haven Firehouse, or it's the loss of a loved one.

You know, where we were, where you took the videos of that firehouse is, it's a big part of Beach Haven.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I'll start roasting everybody.

[audience laughing] I'll start right here.

Hey mom, check Anthony's pockets, he's got silverware.

[audience laughing] He's trying to take a big spoon and a ladle I think.

So what I started to say earlier was, you didn't need to hear the word love.

It was just known.

However, I have to look at things in a funny manner, you know, and there are four words, I will always think of.

She never said, we never said I love you.

But when we were leaving, I was leaving the house, for damn sure, I would hear, "Mike, where's your coat?"

[audience laughing] "Mama, it's July, it's 105."

"Where's your coat?"

- So that was, you know- - [Audience Member] I love you.

- Exactly.

I'm just, I'm blessed, I'm grateful, you know, to grow up in a small town like this.

Unfortunately things come to an end.

So, you know, my grandmother's passed on, my mom and my stepfather live here.

But you know, things change, this town isn't exactly what it used to be like.

It still is a great town, but you know, things change.

And so I'm pretty sure we're gonna be moving on but it's all good.

You know, I lived a great life.

I grew up here, I am blessed like I said, to be born and raised here.

And you know, that's it.

- And that was my grandmother, and the love that I had for her.

[audience applauding] So, can't forget, Shirley.

Will never forget Shirley.

- [Audience Member] Never.

- She gave to this town when she didn't have.

A single mom who worked at Nala's which isn't there anymore.

And now my aunt and uncle's house is being knocked down.

So Shirley, you're not selling the damn house, you're staying.

[audience laughing] The only thing.

And look, so if everybody puts 1,000 bucks in, we could keep, [audience laughing] oh, wait, I'm sorry, Dan said 2,000.

So, that's better.

So anyway, I thank you guys.

I'm gonna sing, I don't know how it's gonna come out.

Started doing this a couple years ago.

My grandmother was my biggest fan, that pain in the ass, would be right here, and I'd be singing a Sinatra song or whatever and it has some time in the middle, and, "Mike, Mike, "can you get my sweater?

"It's out in the car."

[audience laughing] So, you know, just chop me down, like here I thought I was doing good in front of people nope, the old bird just chopped me down.

Or, if I didn't sing, you know I'd be singing some Sinatra, "Okay, that's enough, "can we have some Johnny Cash?"

♪ I hear the train come ♪ ♪ It's going round the bend ♪ ♪ And I ain't seen the sunshine ♪ ♪ Since I don't know when ♪ ♪ I'm stuck in poles and prison ♪ ♪ And time he dragging on.

♪ Now I sing at the nursing home so I get them all to clap, you guys can do that?

♪ Not whistle blowing ♪ ♪ And I'm sound and at home.

♪ ♪ When I was just a baby, my grandma told me son ♪ ♪ Always be a good boy and don't ever play with John's ♪ ♪ Boy and I shot a man in Rio ♪ Back in the 70s when I was a little kid, you know my great-grandfather back in the 40s, 50s decorated the house for Christmas.

When he passed on, my grandfather, took it over, checked and you know, really went above and beyond.

The lights changed, colors, red to green, and red and green and the nativity scene.

All, everything was, that house was covered from head to toe, with lights.

And we also had music, he had Christmas music playing.

Big speakers out here, and you know, as a kid I would come out at night with all the lights shining on me and I use a screwdriver as my microphone.

And I sung to Ben Crosby, you know all those great early Christmas songs.

And I did my own little show there, you know and I thought it was the coolest thing.

And you know, a car would come by and I'd quick run behind like baby Jesus, or behind the nativity scenes and nobody would catch me.

And then so it's just pretty cool that, you know little kid from Beach Haven singing Christmas songs, who started out singing there, you know, changed his life around.

And you know, I try to give back, so that's why I'm singing to in some of the nursing homes, you know what I mean?

To give back to the people and you know, and so I'm just grateful and just hope to keep moving on.

- [Interviewer] It's interesting that when you were a kid, you would hide when- [laughs] when the public was nearby.

Now you do it for the public.

- Yeah, you know, I don't know why that is.

I'm still a little freaked out at this.

It's all good, but I love to be the center of attention, so I don't know, but- - [Interviewer] It's a real love, hate relationship with being in front of people, I see - You know I'm getting, I like when I'm singing in a restaurant, that I'm singing and people are enjoying it, but they're usually focused on their like chicken parm or something, that's a win-win.

- [Interviewer] It's perfect venue for you, 'cause one way you're singing and you're hiding behind the chicken parm.

- As long as it's downwind, because you still gotta smell it and sit there and go, "Aha no," but you know like I said, you know the theater, I love making people laugh.

I have to be the center of attention and that's just the way it is.

♪ Brother down that vine ♪ ♪ A far pulls from prison ♪ ♪ That's where I long to stay ♪ ♪ And I let that lots of whistle ♪ ♪ Blow my blues away ♪ All right, thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

[audience applauding] Thanks guys, thank you, thank you.

- [Interviewer] What has your return to performance meant to you in your life?

- Well, one thing it's given me a job I guess you could technically say but you know, that doesn't hurt.

But yeah, you know, it's just given me an avenue to, reach out to people.

You know, one of the other things I do is that I go to the nursing homes, like we were doing some video earlier on, and that really, really you know, made me feel good about what I was doing.

My grandfather had Alzheimer's, I'll get emotional here again.

And you know, what I get to see in the nursing homes is some of the people with dementia and Alzheimer's that are just sitting there and in their own world.

And as soon as I start singing, especially Sinatra, Johnny Cash, these people sit up, clap, pay attention, know the words, and that's something for the heart.

[bright music] ♪ It's knowing that your door is always open ♪ ♪ And your path is free to walk ♪ ♪ That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag ♪ ♪ Rolled up and stashed behind your couch ♪ ♪ And it's knowing I'm not shackled ♪ ♪ By forgotten words and bonds ♪ ♪ And the ink stains that are dried upon some line ♪ ♪ That keeps you in the back roads ♪ ♪ By the rivers of my memory ♪ ♪ That keeps you ever gentle on my mind ♪ ♪ It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy ♪ ♪ Planted on their columns now that binds me ♪ ♪ Or something that somebody said ♪ ♪ Because they thought we fit together walking ♪ ♪ It's just knowing that the world will not be cursing ♪ ♪ Or forgiving when I walk along ♪ ♪ Some railroad track and find ♪ ♪ That you're moving on the back roads ♪ ♪ By the rivers of my memory ♪ ♪ And for hours you're just gentle on my mind ♪ ♪ Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines ♪ ♪ And the junkyards and the highways come between us ♪ ♪ And some other woman's crying to her mother ♪ ♪ 'Cause she turned and I was gone ♪ ♪ I still might run in silence, tears of joy ♪ ♪ Might stain my face ♪ ♪ And the summer sun might burn me 'til I'm blind ♪ ♪ But not to where I cannot see you walking' ♪ ♪ On the back roads ♪ ♪ By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind ♪ - And you know, like I said, my grandfather was a cop and he was a pretty tough guy.

But at the end of his life, he'd be in the back of the car when I was driving or my grandmother was driving, singing Sinatra.

How did this guy, he never sung Sinatra, he was a big country song, but he was singing love songs in the backseat.

You know, he remembered that stuff, you know, and so music is incredible.

And you know for people with Alzheimer's, dementia, and that's just a gift, you know just to see that.

These people come to life and go right back to where they once were living a normal life.

So I'm grateful to be able to do that.

We're now going into the murky depths.

That's, Mr. Voles told me that, measures worse and Corliss you are slowly sliding into the murky depths of academic oblivion, what?

Here we are folks.

Yeah, it looks like it's been painted a few times since we've been here.

We're under there somewhere.

Right now we are at the Southern Regional High School, Joseph Eckley auditorium, here in Manahawkin, New Jersey.

- [Interviewer] What is the significance besides it being the high school that you attended?

What is the significance to you of this actual stage and this place?

- Well, did many musicals here, as well as it being a classroom for many years, for improvisation class that we had here at Southern, it was started by Joe Eckley.

And you know, that was actually our classroom, we would sit down there, until the class started and get up on stage and do whatever the activity for the day was.

You know, so like I said earlier, this was a big part of my my high school career.

We were joking before about social studies and all that thing, you know, I'm grateful for music and theater and that kind of stuff that goes on in high school.

Because I don't know that I'm cut out for the books.

So this, coming back here it means a lot you know, it helped me make it through high school I think.

- Pulled the muscle in my shoulder.

All right.

- [Interviewer] Tell me a little bit about Joe Eckley.

- Joe Eckley, thank you.

Wow, he put up with a lot of crazy kids, me being one of 'em but it was something that he loved to do.

And speaking of bettering yourself, you know, even in the middle of that, I remember he went away like overseas, like and took a class on improv and stuff like that, on the off season, you know just to make it this class better.

He taught us a lot, you know he put up with a lot of crazy kids running around.

But this was our home, you know what I mean?

And he took care of us, he taught us everything he knew, you know sometimes with love, sometimes with laughter, sometimes with screaming or a little cursing, but, you know you probably had to do that to get 60 kids or 45 kids in line, you know especially at 11 o'clock at night on a tech rehearsal.

And but truly, cared about his teacher, cared about his students and the teachers here.

Everybody loved Joe.

That's the first time I called him Joe, [laughs] Mr. Eckley, and but you know what, I could call him Joe because I knew him after high school, we hung out, you know and became good friends.

You know what I mean?

And you know, I would probably thinking back, I was a little of a lost soul, I didn't go to school, but Michael Lorenze, Joe Eckley, they were in my life afterwards.

And I remember Lorenze saying, "What are you gonna "do with your life?"

And I was like, "Oh, I'm gonna win the lottery."

Well, that isn't gonna happen.

You know what I mean?

And he would just those little life lessons, you know so both of those men were instrumental in helping me and getting me to stay focused through high school, and like I said, and after high school, you know, carried on our friendship.

And when they passed away, the school came together and was here for them.

And I do remember, having to come up here and I got to speak in front of, and I couldn't do it.

As you could see now, I'm an emotional guy.

I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I came out and said what I could, but it was just, the love was there.

And everybody felt it.

And so, I mean, I'm pretty lucky to go to this school to have what we had.

I don't know a lot of places that kids had that going for them.

So Joe Eckley, thank you.

[soft piano music] - [Interviewer] Would you call this a comeback?

- It's a comeback for me as far as my life, you know.

Like 'cause I was headed down a path that wasn't so good, you know and a comeback into trying to make something that I've kind of always wanted to do.

- Thank you everybody.

I wanna wish everybody a happy you St. Patrick's.

- I am just at the beginning I would think of this journey, you know I'm just a guy who uses background tracks, to sing for some people here and there.

Of course my dream would be to, be on a stage, with an orchestra behind me entertaining people.

Thinking about it, I would just like to keep moving forward, keep moving up.

And just entertaining people, making people laugh.

And like I said, just getting out of their head, you know 'cause life is crazy for everybody.

You know what I mean?

And we don't know where other people are.

You know maybe they got stuff going on at home, so just to be able to be out in front of people, take them away from their troubles, which also when I'm up there, I forget about all my troubles.

'Cause I'm looking out there seeing people smiling hopefully, or maybe you're about to throw their spaghetti at me because I'm singing the wrong song.

It's all good people.

You know, and that's live and learn.

You know, I would think would be a great title to my life, live and learn.

And that probably had nothing to do with what you asked me.

- [Interviewer] Mike.

[laughs] - [Interviewer] Live and learn, I like that.

- Do you?

- [Interviewer] Yeah.

- I'm just kidding.

- [Interviewer] Maybe that's what it's called, I'm just kidding.

- I'm just, I like that.

- [Interviewer] Mike.

- Yeah.

- [Interviewer] If your life story were made into a movie, what would the title be?

- I'm Just Kidding, my old lady.

[soft piano music] Good.

♪ I see skies, so blue ♪ ♪ And clouds so white ♪ ♪ The bright blessed day ♪ ♪ The dark sacred night ♪ ♪ And I think to myself, ♪ ♪ what a wonderful world ♪ ♪ The colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ So pretty in the sky ♪ ♪ Are also on the faces, of people going by ♪ ♪ I see friends shaking hands, saying ♪ ♪ How do you do ♪ ♪ They're really saying, I love you ♪ ♪ I hear babies cry ♪ ♪ I've watched them grow ♪ ♪ They'll learn much more than I'll never know ♪ ♪ And I think to myself ♪ ♪ What a wonderful ♪ ♪ Yes I think to myself, ♪ ♪ What a wonderful world.

♪ Thank you guys, have a good night.

Well, do something good for somebody else.

Love you [upbeat music] ♪ Well we have, exactly what you see ♪ ♪ Fools have spread the knee ♪ ♪ Still we find our way ♪ ♪ As sometime, as quickly as they go ♪ ♪ Some choose their own wars ♪ ♪ Still they find their way ♪