Vernon Derrick
Encyclopedia
Vernon Derrick was an American
musician and entertainer. Derrick was born in Grant, Alabama
, in 1933 and was a resident of Arab, Alabama
, since 1941. Derrick may best be remembered as a fiddle and mandolin player of Hank Williams Jr's Bama Band
in the 1980s and played both fiddle and mandolin on the original sessions of such hits as "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" and "A Country Boy Can Survive". He has been recognized by The Alabama Music Hall of Fame
as an Achiever. Derrick began his professional career in music as a teenager, playing a short stint with Flatt and Scruggs. After serving his country in the United States Army
, he recorded and toured with the Stanley Brothers. He was also a longtime member of Jimmy Martin
's bluegrass band 1964-1970. While working with the Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Derrick wrote "The Arab Bounce" and "Big Country", two classic bluegrass favorites which have been recorded by several bluegrass artists and groups. Many country and bluegrass fans and musicians believe that Vernon Derrick was a musical stylist who was ahead of his time in the field of bluegrass music. Derrick died from heart and renal failure at Marshall Medical Center North, Marshall County, Alabama
on January 4, 2008 and was interred at Mount Oak Cemetery, near Arab, Alabama
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician and entertainer. Derrick was born in Grant, Alabama
Grant, Alabama
Grant is a town in Marshall County, in the northeast of Alabama. As of the 2010 census, the population of Grant is 896; it is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, in 1933 and was a resident of Arab, Alabama
Arab, Alabama
Arab is a city in both Cullman County, Alabama and Marshall County, Alabama in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located ten miles from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
, since 1941. Derrick may best be remembered as a fiddle and mandolin player of Hank Williams Jr's Bama Band
The Bama Band
The Bama Band is an American country music group composed of Lamar Morris , Wayne "Animal" Turner , Clifford E. "Cowboy" Eddie Long , Jerry McKinney , Vernon Derrick , Ray Barrickman , Billy Earheart and William Claude Marshall...
in the 1980s and played both fiddle and mandolin on the original sessions of such hits as "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" and "A Country Boy Can Survive". He has been recognized by The Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Alabama Music Hall of Fame
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame, first conceived by the Muscle Shoals Music Association in the early 1980s, was created by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board, which then saw to its Phase One construction of a after a state-wide referendum in 1987...
as an Achiever. Derrick began his professional career in music as a teenager, playing a short stint with Flatt and Scruggs. After serving his country in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, he recorded and toured with the Stanley Brothers. He was also a longtime member of Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin was an American bluegrass musician, known as the "King of Bluegrass".-Early years:Born James H. Martin in Sneedville, Tennessee. Jimmy Martin was born into the hard farming life of rural East Tennessee. He grew up near Sneedville, singing in church and with friends from surrounding...
's bluegrass band 1964-1970. While working with the Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Derrick wrote "The Arab Bounce" and "Big Country", two classic bluegrass favorites which have been recorded by several bluegrass artists and groups. Many country and bluegrass fans and musicians believe that Vernon Derrick was a musical stylist who was ahead of his time in the field of bluegrass music. Derrick died from heart and renal failure at Marshall Medical Center North, Marshall County, Alabama
Marshall County, Alabama
Marshall County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of John Marshall, famous Chief Justice of the United States. As of 2010 the population was 93,019...
on January 4, 2008 and was interred at Mount Oak Cemetery, near Arab, Alabama
Arab, Alabama
Arab is a city in both Cullman County, Alabama and Marshall County, Alabama in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, located ten miles from Guntersville Lake and Guntersville Dam, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
.