AUGUSTA – Daniel A. Corbett of Augusta passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at Maine General Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care-Glenridge in Augusta following a year-long battle with multiple myeloma and renal failure. He was 77.

Daniel “Danny” was born in Augusta, Maine, on June 14, 1945, the youngest of three children to Louise (Albert) Corbett-Palmer and Earl Corbett.

After spending the first five years of his life in Dresden, Maine, Danny moved to Belfast, Maine, where he met a little girl named Sharon Harvey. They attended schools in Belfast, graduating together from Crosby High School in June 1964. Danny and Sharon were the absolute definition of the word “soulmates.”

They married on Sept. 26, 1964, continuing to live in Belfast, with a brief time in Searsport until 1974 when they permanently moved their family to Augusta. They had three children: Lila in 1965, Caroline in 1967, and Jason in 1973. Sadly, Sharon passed away on Oct. 14, 2021.

Danny worked early in his adult life at Penobscot Poultry in Belfast as well as being your “Friendly Fuller Brush Man.” Upon moving to Augusta Danny worked at Lipman’s Poultry and later for John Hancock Life Insurance. Danny finished out his working career at the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services until he retired in 2019. 

Danny’s love of music goes back to the early 1950s. His first recollection of music was being with his grandfather who was a clogger in Lincoln, Maine. His grandmother as an accordion player, his aunt played the piano and his mother enjoyed playing the harmonica. They performed on stage at minstrel shows in Penobscot County and the family would often gather for French Heritage parties. He received his first guitar at the age of five. He felt fortunate enough over the years to have shared the stage with Hal Lone Pine and Betty Cody, Gene and Flo Hooper, Slim Clark, Boxcar Willie, Jimmy Spellman, Rusty Rogers, and Dick Curless. The first money he remembered earning on stage was when he won $25 in a talent contest on the Bob Elston Road Show in the 1960s. Country singer Shorty Thomas had a popular TV show based out of Bangor, Maine, and a great highlight for Dan was to have been invited to sing on his show. Danny’s daughter Lila was very young at the time and instead of being happy to see her Daddy on the old black and white TV, she cried and begged her grandmother to get him out of there right now! In the 1980s Danny had a popular country/rock band called the Main Knights.

Danny had been a member of the Maine Academy of Country Music and felt privileged to emcee many shows, as well as being honored with several awards including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Living Legend. The most enjoyment he had though was being on stage or in his living room with three of his grandchildren, Eric, Cady and Jacob, who shared his love of music. Danny recorded a number of CD’s and performed at local nursing and group homes. 

Danny enjoyed writing songs as well. As a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, he wrote a song years ago called “Witness Advertising Paradise.” A missionary friend brought the song to the New York Bethel headquarters and was included for a time in Bethel’s Monday Family Night catalog of songs. It was a song of hope of a resurrection into a paradise earth. A strong belief Danny held close to as a Jehovah’s Witness. He would sing and play the song at parties with friends as well. He enjoyed reading his Bible and found comfort in many scriptures. One of his favorites was Isaiah 30:21: “This is the way, walk in it.” 

Danny was predeceased by his wife Sharon, his parents, his stepfather Judson Palmer and his sister Mary Ellen Corbett Bailey.

Danny is survived by daughter, Lila Beaulieu and her husband Steven of Augusta and their children Cady Beaulieu and Eric Beaulieu; a daughter, Caroline Blais and her husband Mark of Augusta and their children Richard Blais, Alana Blais, Daniel (Stump) Corbett, Joseph Stump, Cameron Wilson and his wife Shena, Johnny Blais and his wife Carolyn, Chris Blais; a son, Jason Corbett of Augusta and his children Mariah Mitchell and her husband Cody, Emily Corbett and her wife McKayla, Jacob Mills-Lightner and his half-sister Marissa Mills-Lightner; one brother Edward Corbett of Camden; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and his favorite aunt, Pauline Delong.

Following the passing of his wife, Sharon and then becoming ill himself, Danny was surrounded by family. His daughter Caroline and her husband Mark were especially instrumental in making sure he was cared for, even moving in with him for a short period of time. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Maine General (Glenridge) Comfort Care Unit for exceptional care and kindness during the last three weeks of Danny’s life.

Danny will be buried next to Sharon, at Kling Cemetery in Augusta.

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