“Derek...I would like to thank you for the inspiration to rely on my inner self rather than on duplicating other's work. Your CD is by far the best instrumental guitar work I've heard. When I heard you play at the Festival 2 weeks ago I was really caught off guard by your abilities and mastership of your work. Such confidence to play with such boldness and perfection. However when I brought your CD home and played it (many, many times..lol), I realized only then how special your music is. A song that hits a person's heart allows a vision offered only by the Artist himself. If another artist can get just a glimpse of this vision, he has bettered himself instantly, with a peek into your actual inspirations. It was truly an honor to hear you play live.”

Thank you for your kindness, Arch Davis

"Hi Derek. I attended the Multicultural Festival in Parkersburg, WV today and saw you perform. I was quite impressed with your technical skill on guitar and with your amazing compositions. Upon arriving home, I immediately looked up your website, and became even more impressed with your spiritual side. Thanks very much for the beautiful music, the spiritual insights, and the wonderful inspiration."

Diane Hanlon

“Hey Derek, I want to tell you that I just received your album in the mail today and had a listen!  It is a great, soothing, and exhilarating piece of work. All the songs have a certain vibration that connects to my heart and my soul; they make you think about life, slowing down the world for a while. Being a music lover myself, you truly are an inspiration.  Thank you so much!”

Peace, Jonathan Bartholomy

“Leo Kottke has nothing on Derek” Scott Wortman

“One of the very best guitarists I have ever seen live.” 

Vincente DeAnda

“Many thanks for the CD. I gave it a thorough listen. Your playing is obviously great, and I dug the scope of your compositions . . . there are a lot of of twists and turns, and a lot of the pieces swerve between serenity and a really interesting kind of controlled turmoil. I've been listening to a lot of classical music the last year, and what interested me about the CD was the sense of complex emotions in your songs. Very good stuff, and I'll keep listening to it.”

Quinton Skinner, Author ‘Amnesia Nights’

Quotes heard from anonymous audience members:

“I don’t know where you could go to or who you could learn from to be able to play like Derek.”

“How does he do that? It sounds like he has a whole orchestra playing up there with him.”

"Derek is an awesome guitarist, but his compositions give me nightmares."