Nashville-born and North Carolina-raised — Derrek Lemar Croney grew up in the middle of several worlds: his mother’s deep love of Gospel music, his father’s deep love of R&B, and his own deep love of Pop, R&B, and Jazz.
The result? A musical style that is a beautiful fusion of Jazz, Pop, Gospel, and R&B.
Because of his skill on the keyboard/piano and his stage acumen, his peers have given him the nickname, “Maestro”. He has been compared to such heavyweights as George Duke and Billy Preston.
Derrek has played keys since the age of 12, starting in the Baptist church. Most recently, he spent several years with the Stanley Baird Group.
Currently, Derrek serves as Music Director for NC-based band, “Mo’ Jazz, feat. Connie McCoy” and Assistant Music Director for show productions such as, “A Motown Christmas“, “Three Little Birds“, and “Purlie“.
He only recently started producing and recording his own projects. In 2018, Derrek released “The Maestro Project“, a collection of Jazz, Pop, and Gospel. The success of the project allowed him to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness.
With his newly released 2nd project, “Journey“, Derrek took a different direction, choosing to pursue an array of Jazz, Pop, and R&B sounds and styles.