"Lou Derr's country music and bio"
LOU DERR singer/songwriter “Singer/Songwriter of the Year”LA Music Awards 2006
Lou Derr was born at Travis Air Force Base in 1957. From the time he could reach the keyboard on the family upright piano Lou has been playing music. Traditional Country Music at heart, mixed with the sounds of the great Southern Rock bands of the 70’s, Lou has come up with a unique sound that has put him on stage with legends like Marshall Tucker Band, Waylon Jennings and Charlie Daniels Band. Growing up in the S.F.Bay Area during the C.C.R. era pushed Lou into becoming a Country Rocker type player. John Fogerty had the most influence on Derr’s Guitar playing. Then later on pickers like Pete Anderson and Albert Lee became Lou’s true guitar heroes.
At the age of 14 Lou stepped up on to his first stage to do a live radio show one Sunday. It was an experience Lou would never forget. The rush of the crowd clapping to Haggard’s hit “Corrina, Corrina” was all it took for Lou to be hooked on performing live. Merle Haggard and Hank Jr. have probably been Lou’s favorite “Workin’ Man’s” Country artists. Lou has always had a love for trains and as Lou’s writing evolved, it wasn’t any surprise that many of his songs are about trains. “I guess that’s what happens when you have tracks practicly in your back yard growing up”
Lou signed his first record deal in the 9th grade with a 1 hit record company out of Vallejo, Ca. Lou recorded two singles that played on the local radio stations through out the Bay Area and Derr sold his 45’s out of the back of his van. Lou moved to Lake County in 1979 and played the Honky Tonks for years. In 1986 Lou Derr and Bootleg was born. Better shows and the best musicians available to Lou.
Lou's self penned album "Santa Fe" is an assortment of 10 songs about life and situations growing up. Lou describes his writing like "putting yourself in a situation and then writing your way out of it" The title track "Santa Fe" is the 1st single to be released and is about growing up with a Hobo Uncle that would rather jump a train than drive his new Chrysler New Yorker across country.
Many of Lou's works are train related or have a train beat going on. "Just Once More" is another train song as well as "Old #7". No Box Car Willie here, just some movin'along music with good instrumentation and a great dancing beat. A fun to listen to album.
