Podcast # 1 Derrick Lee Interview

DERRICK LEE From his early beginnings growing up in Newark, N. J. at The Ebenezer Baptist Church, it was evident that Derrick Lee had a special gifting in Music. Inspired by his older sister, Earlene, he began developing his craft while playing piano for his father's church. After graduating from Arts High School in 1976, he received and accepted a scholarship from Fisk University. On his arrival to Fisk he was asked to direct The Modern Black Mass Choir. From that he was selected to be one of the famed Jubilee Singers. His performances with this historic aggregation took him to Carnegie Hall, The United Nations, The White House, Boston Symphony Hall as well as taping Television Specials with Cicely Tyson, Lucille Ball and Artie Shaw just to name a few. Under the tutelage of Piano Masters Anne & Matthew Kennedy (Fisk) and Dr. Korberstien (Oberlin Conservatory) he caught the attention of Shannon Williams, Gospel Producer at Nashboro Records. This union catapulted him to be one of the most soughtafter session players in the business. He worked with so many legendary Artists like Joe May, The Caravans, Willie Neal & The Gospel Keynotes, Yolanda Adams, Jesse Norman, Barbara Mandrell, Donna Fargo, The Mighty Clouds of Joy to name a few. In 1978 Derrick formed DHERICO MUSIC. This company boasts a vast catalog of outstanding music recorded by the top Gospel Artists. Some of those Artists were Ricky Dillard & New G, Donnie McClurkin, BB & CC Winans, The Thompson Community Choir, Kirk Franklin, Mississippi Mass Choir., Beverly Crawford, Harvey Watkins, Shirley Caesar, The Women Of Worship with the classic ”Order My Steps”, Aretha Franklin, Patti Austin and Ali Woodson. You might remember the Platinum commemorative hit song of the Super Bowl XX Chicago Bears, "Super Bowl Shuffle". It was performed and cowritten by Derrick! In early 1981, Derrick joined forces with Dr. Bobby Jones and became the Music Director of BET’S BOBBY JONES GOSPEL. Over 35 seasons in production the show remained at the top of BET’s ratings and was documented as the longest running show in the history of cable television!! In 2012 he became the Music Director for “Bobby Jones Presents”. It has become the flagship Show on the Impact Network. Along with Grammy, Dove and NAACP nods he received the coveted Trumpet Award in 2012 (Spiritual Enlightenment) for his extensive work and musical prowess. “I thank God for allowing me to tour and conduct workshops in six of the seven continents. Everything that I’ve been blessed to do is because of The Grace Of GOD!!!!”My favorite scripture is PSALMS 27 “The lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Derricklee1958@gmail.com Dherico Music/Facebook