Pisgah United Methodist Church, and for over 30 years served as the Music Director for the Gospel Choir. Music for many local artists, including recording his first project in Nashville with the 21st Century Singers entitled, “Triumphant”. His classical skills were an extraordinary demonstration of his musicianship as he played concertos, preludes, and other pieces by European composers like Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Liszt, and Mozart.Īs Derrick’s music career expanded beyond the college doors, he started producing Derrick always sought out opportunities that would enhance his musical skills, and later in 1977, accepted an invitation for an exchange program at Fisk University to attend the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio for a year. He joined the Fisk Jubilee Singers, where he traveled internationally singing Negro Spirituals, and concertized with many renowned personalities such as Lucille Ball, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Barbara Mandrell, among others. He became the Music Director of the Black Mass Choir, leading them to win many choral competitions throughout the South.
As a musical prodigy, Derrick would be recognized as one of the most outstanding musicians on the Fisk campus. It was at this prominent HBCU where Derrick’s musical life began to transform. In 1976, Derrick attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He also received a proclamation from the city for being one of Newark's “Most Outstanding Musicians.” Derrick continued to excel in music and in 1973 he attended the Arts High School, the nation’s first high school for the Arts he became the Music Director for the High School Choir. He founded the church’s premier choir, the W.
If music is a birthright, Derrick was in the right place! He began playing piano and organ in the early years of his life following in the footsteps of his sister Earlene, and later became the Minister of Music at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey where his father was the Founder and Pastor.
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