Vernon Derrick RIP

Vernon Derrick 1933-2007Veteran fiddle and mandolin player Vernon Derrick passed away on Friday morning (1/4) at the age of 74.

He performed with both The Stanley Brothers and Jimmy Martin during the 1960s after gaining some exposure during a brief stint with Flatt & Scruggs. A memorable contribution to the bluegrass repertoire is his instrumental Arab Bounce, originally recorded by Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys in 1970, and re-cut dozens of times by other artists since.

Country music came calling as well, and Vernon spent time with artists as varied as Lefty Frizzell, Merle Travis and George Morgan to Hank Williams, Jr. It was with Hank Jr. that Derrick saw his greatest prominence, playing fiddle on #1 hits All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down and Country Boy Can Survive.

Vernon had been in poor health this past few years, and suffered from both renal and congestive heart failure. He underwent surgery in December and though he came home briefly after Christmas, he was hospitalized again earlier in the week.

Funeral arrangements can be found on The Arab Tribune web site, which also published a comprehensive overview of Vernon Derrick’s career some time ago.

Another pioneer lost…

1 Comment
Leave a comment
Comments are open and unmoderated for our registered users, only your first comment will require approval before publication. Comments do not necessarily reflect the views of The Bluegrass Blog. Obscene, abusive, silly, or annoying remarks may be deleted, but the fact that particular comments remain on the site in no way constitutes an endorsement of their content by The Bluegrass Blog.

comment #43815 By BamaBands on 01.06.08 4:53 pm

He was my 2nd cousin. RIP Dear Cousin. Last time I saw him was 5 years ago at my mothers funeral.

TrackBack URI

You must

  • Register
  • and Log in in to leave comments.

    New exhibits to open at Bluegrass Museum

    November 3 will see four new exhibits unveiled at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY. Three will focus on the pioneering work of members of the IBMA's Hall of Honor: Pete Kuykendall - founder of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine Lance Leroy - booking agent for Lester Flatt,...

    Benny Martin – The Fiddle Collection

    When the roll is called of the all-time greatest fiddlers in bluegrass, the name of Benny Martin will always be included. He was a member of the Flatt & Scruggs show for several years in the early 1950s, and also worked briefly for Bill Monroe. He played on The Grand Ole Opry as a solo performer,...

    Marty Raybon – The Grass I Grew Up On

    Marty Raybon will be releasing two new CDs later this month. The Grass I Grew Up On is a bluegrass CD and When The Sand Runs Out will be simultaneously released as a country project. Singles from both projects have already been released to radio. I had the chance to converse with Marty about these...

    Benny Williams remembered

    Our UK correspondent, Richard F Thompson, remembers Benny Williams, and recounts his long, and largely unheralded career in bluegrass and country music. Benjamin Horace "Benny" Williams: March 28, 1931 - October 11, 2007. Benny Williams died earlier this month in St Thomas Hospital, Nashville,...

    Clinch Mountain Boys in serious auto accident

    We have learned that Nathan Stanley and Dewey Brown, both members of Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, were involved in a serious automobile accident early this morning (6/22). We are still collecting information, and will update as we can confirm further details, but it appears that Nathan,...

    Introducing Alan Munde

    I am very proud to introduce Alan Munde as a Guest Contributor on The Bluegrass Blog. I spent 3 years under Alan's tutelage at South Plains College. Alan is the banjo instructor and the bluegrass ensemble instructor at the school. Here is a quote from Alan's website alanmundegazette.com to give you some...

    Paul Williams in Knoxnews

    Knoxnews.com has a feature article today about mandolinist/singer Paul Williams. The article presents a thorough biography of Williams' music career, starting with his time spent in Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys and completing the story with Williams' current band, The Victory Trio. Paul Williams...

    Jim Lauderdale and Mac Wiseman in Country Music People

    This post is a contribution from Richard Thompson, a semi-regular contributor here at The Bluegrass Blog. He is also a longstanding contributor to British Bluegrass News, a quarterly print publication where he also briefly served as editor. The February edition of the widely read British publication...

    Grascals reach beyond their base

    The Grascals have just learned that they have a single shipping to country radio. But it's not from their current CD. It's a track they recorded with Hank Williams Jr. for his new new release, 127 Rose Avenue. The song, All The Roads, is a Hank Jr. composition that he cut with bluegrass backing,...

    Bluegrass Music Profiles in the mail

    The May/June issue of Bluegrass Music Profiles was mailed earlier this week, and should reach subscribers over this next few days. Included in this issue is a cover feature on Mountain Heart, on the occasion of their new CD release, Wide Open. Entitled, Wide Open, Keyed Up and Ready To Go!, the article...

    Carter Brothers head for the Emerald Isle

    The Carter Brothers (Danny and Tim) are packing their grip for a long, long trip - across the ocean to Ireland. They have two weeks worth of shows running from June 18 through July 1. Tim will be on banjo, mandolin and guitar, with Danny on guitar and Mark Vernon on bass. Everybody gets to sing. Tim...

    Lilly Brothers and Don Stover to WV HOF

    Recently, the West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame announced the names of those to be inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame this year. Among them are the Clear Creak, Raleigh County, bluegrass trio the Lilly Brothers and Don Stover. Also named are Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, but more of...