DEREK WOLFFORD
  • HOME
  • DRUMS
  • PEARL
  • BIO
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG

A Little Help From My Friends...

2/27/2010

0 Comments

 
Picture
Vocalist Chris Mitchell is releasing his second solo CD entitled Sing on February 26th, 2009. I’ve been affiliated with him since 1996 as drummer (and one-time percussionist) for his band, The Collection. This seemed like a good time to tell the story of how a group of strangers ended up becoming some of the most influential people in my life. 


For a drummer, you’re really lucky if you find a bassist that you lock with to create that special rhythm section. In my case, I found a whole freakin’ band! 

I still remember walking into my first rehearsal with Chris Mitchell & The Collection at Belmont University. The band had been playing in the Nashville area and was gathering a strong following. They were in a spot because their drummer Chris (Brown) couldn’t make a date and I was highly recommended by their keyboardist Josh. He and I had just played a horrible wedding date under a tent where the ground was very bumpy and slanted. If I could endure that... then I could do anything, right? 

I crammed for the rehearsal because it was a lot of original music+covers and the band was really good. All of the members had majored in a field of music and one of the background vocalist was actually an instructor at the university. On my side, a combined thousand years of scholastic music programs and playing every club with every band from Here to There. The rehearsal went great and we really clicked as people too. However, I knew that eventually this one-off show would be done and their drummer would be back! Luckily, my other strength is thinking of a Plan B, C & D really fast so I told Chris (Mitchell) I thought percussion would really add a lot to their sound. I talked myself into the band as the 10th member... Derek, The Percussionist. One problem.... I didn’t own any percussion! 

I was working for Pearl Drums by that point and I quickly bought all of the used percussion I could afford. Now that I had it, I had to learn how to play it... oh the web of deceit thou hath weaveth for thy self!! Needless to say, it worked out and I performed with them until eventually taking over the drum chair when Chris Brown set off to find his fortune. (He’s currently a Blue Man that’s in a Group) 
Picture
CM&TC line-up w/ Josh, Darci Monet, me, Caroline Berry, John Zocco, and Janet
Soon after, there were significant changes in the guitar and background vocalist positions. The late 90’s - present line-up set new attendance records at many clubs in town and our live show was a must-see. (You’ll find video of a very very tame night in the Listen/Gig Blog section)
Picture
CM&TC line-up w/ me, Marshall, Keith, Chris, Janet, & Theresa
Picture
CM&TC line-up w/ Keith, me, Kelley, Janet, and Marshall
Picture
CM&TC line-up w/ Chris, Brandon, me, Janet, and Kelley
By the time 2003 rolled around, the ride was coming to an end. The musical climate in town changed and we were all quite different from the band who were known for bringing ‘wickedness’ to the clubs. Chris Mitchell moved from Nashville and The Collection occasionally played on each other’s various new projects. Josh (keyboards) moved to New York and has since become a successful remixer and producer. 
Picture
The Janet Kenyon Band @ 3rd & Lindsley with me, Kelley, Janet, & Keith
Picture
Amy’s band American Chills
Picture
w/ my band Longstrap in downtown Nashville
Picture
The girls during their session with 3 Doors Down
Picture
Marshall with Swingin’ Bob Wood
Picture
Keith & I tracking with our jazz trio
Chris Mitchell moved back to Nashville in 2006 and we found ourselves back on stage together again. Gone were the scary techno loops, stretchy leather, alcohol-fueled lightning bolts, and sweaty 3-hour sets! This time our live shows were more about the songs and the vibe reflects who are now. To Josh’s credit, we been using a revolving roster of keyboardist ever since. 

Chris brought The Collection into the studio to finally capture the synergy that effortlessly flows between us all when we play together. You can hear the classic ’98 line-up on “Gravity”, “A Little Help From My Friends”, and “Unconcerned”. Guest starring on “People Get Ready” is Darci Monet who was one of the original background vocalist.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
But this story isn’t just about the music. 

From within the band came two successful marriages (Janet ♥ Keith and me ♥ Kelley) and coming soon the first “Collection” baby. Marshall and Amy have extraordinary spouses and they’re definitely considered part of the extended Collection Family. 

With everyone’s ever growing schedules and responsibilities, who knows how many more times we can get together? But even if we never played another note as The Collection again, I know that they will always be there if I ever need ‘a little help from my friends’.

And that feels pretty darn good!

The Collection are: Janet Kenyon, Keith Kenyon, Derek Wolfford, Marshall Moody, Kelley Norris, and Amy Owsley.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Alan Evans
    Al Kooper
    Andrea Young
    Batman
    Bill Brasky
    Bill Finger
    Bill Hicks
    Billy Sherrill
    Birthday
    Bo Bice
    Booker T. And The MGs
    Brian Frasier Moore
    Brothers Of The Southland
    Bruno Mars
    Buddy Harman
    Calvin Rodgers
    Casey Cooper
    Chad Sexton
    Chevelle
    Chris Dave
    Chris Kent
    Chris Mitchell & The Collection
    Christmas
    Cody Hanson
    Comics
    Concert
    Craig Morgan
    Dante’ Roberson
    Disturbed
    Dj Misphet
    Dr Hook
    Drummers Live
    Drums
    Duane Eddy
    Dungeons And Dragons
    Eddie Kramer
    Eric Herandez
    Fantasy Football
    Fatherhood
    Friday Night Videos
    Garth
    Gary Forkum
    Gavin Degraw
    George Jones
    Hinder
    Huey Lewis & The News
    Incubus
    Influences
    Interview
    James Wesley
    Jeff Porcaro
    Johnny K
    Jose Pasillas
    Karate
    Keith Richards
    Kelley Norris
    Kid Rock
    Kim Thompson
    Lasers
    Led Zeppelin
    Leon Redbone
    Living Colour
    Longstrap
    Marcel Chagnon
    Marc Quinones
    Marc Tyler Nobleman
    Mark Ortmann
    Mark Wehner
    Marvin Mcquitty
    Melinda Doolittle
    Michael Baroody
    Mike Mangini
    Mike Wengren
    Modern Drummer
    Movies
    Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
    Musicians Hall Of Fame
    Ned Zeppelin
    Night Flight
    Night Tracks
    Omar Hakim
    Pearl
    Percussion
    Percy Sledge
    Phil Everley
    Project 108
    Rap
    Red Solo Cup
    Rick Goodwin
    Rick Patin
    Robert Searight
    Rodney Howard
    Sam Loeffler
    Scott Holt
    Scott Johnson
    Sean Bates
    Snarky Puppy
    Social Media
    Society
    Soulive
    Sput
    Stanton Moore
    Star Trek
    Star Wars
    Steve Potts
    Styx
    Suzanne Morissette
    Suzi Oravec
    Television
    Terence Higgins
    Thanksgiving
    The Beatles
    The Bottle Rockets
    The Crickets
    The Memphis Horns
    The Wayback Machine
    This Day In History
    Time Machine
    Todd Sucherman
    Tom Roady
    Tom Tom Magazine
    Trent Willmon
    Trial By Fire
    Trypta-phunk
    Twitter
    Umphrey's McGee
    Vic Danger
    Vine
    Virgin
    Wilson Phillips

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    March 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008

    View my profile on LinkedIn
  • HOME
  • DRUMS
  • PEARL
  • BIO
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG