Meeting My Crew: The Musicians

Today I bring to you another awesome musician whom I am excited to work with on this divine assignment.

Please meet Derek Crockett, Pianist and percussionist who will bless this musical work with his great talent on the keys.

Pianist/ Percussionist Derek Crockett began his musical journey with piano lessons at the age of 5 years old nagged his way into drum lessons by the age of 12. Some of his early influences were DaveBrubeck, Jerome Brailey and Pauhlino Da Costa. Timbales were his instrument of choice in the Eastmoor High School marching band where he was Drum Captain and later continued to march as a Music Major at Elizabeth City State University. Derek formed and lead Smooth Jazz band KHASMIR and thus began 12 years of relative songwriting and performing success in Columbus, OH. Afterward he returned to R&B percussion with cover bands Black Gold, The Hot Boyz, Playhouse, Meredith Evans and Shaun Scott.
In 2017 Aaron Todd (Los Angeles) included Derek’s timbale work on his single STRANGE. Since moving to the Bay Area in 2015 Derek has done xylophone work with Hernando Bueno and Gloria West & The Gents and was featured on the deluxe edition red vinyl release of DEM KEYS. Derek co-lead a drum circle at the Dunedin Brewery for a year. Other recent Bay area acts Include Stephanie d’Angelo, Blanca Theista, the Nat Tiger Bailey Project and Paul Young with the Reggae Riot.

Derek is currently celebrating over a year as the house drummer for the Subcentral @ Iberian Rooster weekly Market Underground & Open Mic previously shared with Jamal Hasan on saxophone and now with Kenny Walker on bass and the Skylab modular synth. Derek’s Off-off Broadway work includes Musical Director for Roxy Knepp’s comedy THE MEAN STREETS OF COLUMBUS IN 2014 and most recently in 2019 as Orchestra Percussionist for the hit play FOUR GUYS NAMED JOSE AND UNA MUJER NAMED MARIA at the Stageworks Theater in Tampa directed by JL Rey.

Thank you so much for tuning in!!

Be sure to like us on Facebook at The Journey to Freedom Movement and tickets are available now for purchase on Eventbrite.

Smooches!!!

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