Mr. Derrick White, Band Director
Henderson Middle School
2830 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta, GA, 30341
derrick_b_white@dekalbschoolsga.org
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Derrick B. White,
Born in Columbus, GA, Derrick White developed his love for the trombone at the age of 11. At the age of 16, he played with the Temptations and The Four tops at the Grand Opening of EuroDisney in Paris, France. He played with the Columbus College Jazz Band which went on a European tour. The tour included the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival, and Euro Disney.
After graduating from Columbus State University, he went on to Georgia State University to earn a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance. Upon graduating Georgia State University, he took a position in Atlanta Public Schools and taught Strings and Band for 5 years. He also was a professor of Jazz Studies at Morris Brown College.
He has played with many artists such as Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Archie Bell, The Dells, Sonny Emory, Rene Marie, Don Braden, Conrad Herwig, Wycliff Gordon, Joe Lovano, Jennifer Holiday, Debbie Gibson, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Kurt Elling, Johnny Gill, Tim Armacost, New York Voices, Russell Gunn and Bob Mintzer. He has recorded music with Arrested Development, the SOS Band, Big Boi from OutKast, the movie IdleWild, featuring Outkast. He has played for the Inauguration Ball for President Barack Obama. He has also traveled extensively all over the United States, Mexico, and the Bahamas. Derrick has acted in the movie Bessie, starring Queen Latifah, playing in Ma’Rainey’s Band as a trombonist. Derrick is an active member of GMEA, NAME and works also as a music transcriber.
Band Director
