Kevin Derrow is a singer, song writer, poet, writer, and one man band from Garrett IN. He has recorded over two dozen CDs, and has written a book of poetry, stories, and essays "The Mad Sailor of the North Atlantic." He has held jobs as a teacher/coach, train conductor, sailor, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, cook, Surface Warfare Officer, diver, infantryman, OTR trucker, environmental field sample technician, and other odd jobs. Graduate of Indiana University (BS General Studies) and Old Dominion University (BS Political Science) Derrow makes his home in FT Wayne IN with wife Kathy, Ranger the cat, and Molly the puddle, and whatever grandchildren happen by. He plays gigs as a one man band, bass player for various bands, and part time trucking jobs to make ends meet. Derrow also builds and repairs guitars and other stringed instruments having learned repair from Jack Tomlinson of Adventure music. Looking at all these tunes, some of them dating from 1974, and having listened to so many great tracks on this site, I see my own music with possibilities I could not see back when I was 19 and multi tracking on a 4 track cassette studio. The dream was to find that band of brothers who saw in my music the same thing I did, and of course, things I never could see on my own. That magic always comes in collaboration. Guess I am somehow still cahsing that dream. Wish me luck.
Music opened doors in my life no other forum could have opened. My music friendships are different than my other friendships, perhaps more complex, but I would not be the same person without them. Music is a gift that brings joy on so many levels.
My dream is to play in that band that the pure magic happens. Sometimes that is a recording, sometimes a live performance. The beauty of a live performance is the interaction of the listeners; instant bio feedback. The beauty of a recording is that you can share and re live the magic.
I'd have let my first wife leave that bar that night we met with someone else.
Puff the Magic Dragon.
Beatles, as a band and as individual performers, Gordon Lightfoot, Rick Nelson, Neilson, Steely Dan, Don McClain, America, Chicago, Blues Brothers Band, Gary More, Jimmy Buffett, Kenney Chesney, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Lynard Skynard, (I can never spell that) Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Carley Simon, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Glenn Miller,
The next moment of magic. Always looking for the magic.
Not about a message. It is about the moment, and the magic that occurs in that moment, for myself, and for anyone who really listens.
When everything is working it is magic. No other feeling in the earth comes close.
I made a great part time living in bars and clubs. Also made money building and repairing instruments. It has gotten harder to make money over the years, even though I feel I have gotten better as a performer and musician. Seems some nights I still work for the same fifty bucks I worked for thirty years ago.
Love this site. A ton of talent.
Working for the same fifty bucks I did forty years ago.
Lived on the road OTR in a big rig the last decade and lost track of some folks. I still see some of the acts and bands I played and ran with every once in a while.
Still trying to figure that one out myself.
Jim Bulleit. If I can con him onto this site he is magic.