About Derek Abshire

My name is Derek, and I started playing music at 19 years old. There's a lot of musicians in my family. Everybody does something; if they don't play an instrument, then they sing in the choir at church.

I remember at a young age sneaking up to the platform during service and laying beneath the drums, watching them vibrate as the drummer played. I was captivated from the beginning. There were many nights I would stay up listening to my mom play old Gospel hymns on her piano.

Throughout my teenage years people would ask me if I played an instrument. I would say no, I'm just a music appreciator. But one day someone shoved a bass in my face and said, “Play it! We need a bass player!” I spent many long hours that night playing the same tune over and over.

From that day forward, I knew I wanted music to be part of my life. Shortly after, I went out and bought my first acoustic bass. I carried that bass on my back everywhere! 6 months later I was playing bass in a folk rock band.

After my first show at a local pub I remember getting off stage, talking to my fellow bandmates, saying this is it, this is what I want to do! The feeling I got from the camaraderie has remained unmatched by anything I've ever experienced before.