Derrick Englert was born on May 28, 1983 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His musical career started at the age of five when he started playing the Trombone in kindergarten at St. Matthew's School. His early musical career quickly came to a halt at the age of five and a half. Dean Englert, Derrick's father, was the music teacher at Norfolk Academy, Derrick's High School. Reluctantly, Derrick started playing the saxophone at the age of 15 to avoid getting the question "Why don't you play an instrument like your father?" The next year Dean needed a trombone player in the band so Derrick switched. The following summer Derrick's friend Jon needed a bass player for his garage band. So, Derrick got a Squire Bass Pack and that was the start. After a year and a half of playing bass he got into the Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Music as a Double Bass/ Jazz Studies Major.                             (continued next page)