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Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Derrick embraced Rastafari at a very young age. His mother passed away while he was still an infant and his father, a short time after. He went through very hard times, being a “motherless child,†yet his peers consider him to be kind, humble and considerate. Derrick’s musical career began not as a singer/songwriter but as a musician, playing the drums. He says, “As a youth, I used to make drums from ‘cheese tins’ and guitar strings from fishing line.†He played with several bands including Bare Essentials with Errol Lee, Love and 7th Extension and while working with 7th Extension, he got the opportunity to not just play drums, but to vocalize.
It was then that he recorded his first single as a vocalist, “What We Need.†He then recorded his first album, “Right On Time†for famed producer Lowell “Tonka†Hill and later recorded a cover version of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough,†featuring ‘DJ Trinity’ (Junior Bramwell), on the Joe Gibbs Label. This was one of the first reggae cover songs to be listed on the Billboard Charts. Also, not many in the reggae music industry are aware that Derrick Lara wrote and sang “Hard Times†(‘Hey Youth Man’ on the Shank-I-Shek Rhythm); a song that went to number one and is still heard, on any given day, on the airwaves and in the dancehalls -- at home and abroad.
After a stint on the North Coast hotel circuit, Derrick returned to Kingston and by this time, The Tamlins, one of Jamaica’s best harmonizing groups, was in need of a new vocalist. They met Derrick through Sly & Robbie and altogether the group recorded hit after hit and touring the world with their ‘golden’ voices. They also toured as harmony for reggae greats, Peter Tosh and Rita Marley, among others.
In the early ‘90’s, Derrick recorded two albums, “Motherless Child,†(Jwyanza) and “Just A Vibes†with Beres Hammond. He has also recorded singles for producers Anthony Red Rose and Richard “Bello†Bell. His last album, “All About Life,†was released by the Startrail Record Label in 1999. Some of the memorable songs are “Rascal,†“Nutten Nah Gwaan,†and “Praise Him.â€
Derrick has embarked on a solo career, however, he still sings with Junior Moore and Carlton Smith of the Tamlins. He is currently in the studios working on his fourth album which he hopes to release on his own label. He states, “I can now express another side of my true self in song, just the way I wanna do it. My intention is to keep making good music and hope that no matter how small, someone can learn something good, something positive from my music, I know I’m doing what Jah chose for me to do - there’s no doubt in my mind about that – and I won’t disappoint Himâ€
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