Derrick “Greyhound” McDowell has been playing drums since the age of 3 years old, where his God gifted talent started him playing in church. He has been playing professionally since the age of 15 years of age. He has traveled and toured all over the world with Carthage College Gospel Messengers for over 15 years. They’ve toured Africa, Germany, Paris,  France, San Juan Puerto, Virgin Islands, Downtown Disney, as well as many cities in the United States. 

Derrick toured with a band named LimoZine that traveled to Osaka, Japan, and played at the world-renowned club The Encore. LimoZine was also the first African American band national and international to play at the Worldwide Expo.

He has shared the stage with many of the music’s industry artists such as Morris Day and the Time, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Common, Cameo, Earth Wind and Fire, The Whispers, Aaliyah, The Whalers, just to name a few. He’s done workshops with Gospel Legend, V Michael MaKay, and had the opportunity to play for The Mississippi Mass Choir.

At the Cascio Interstate Music Drummfest, Derrick played and shared the stage with drummer greats Thomas Lang, Omar Hakim, Dom Famularo.

Derrick has had the chair to play for a number of legendary artists such as blues artists Jesse James, Floyd Taylor (Johnny Taylor’s Son), the late great Michael Henderson, The Dramatics, Gospel Legends, The Fabulous Luckett Brothers. 

 

Derrick’s stick is modeled after the late great drummer, John Blackwell Jr.’s signature stick. A X5A stick that is longer in length. My choice of color is Natural, and Prince Purple, in honor of my brother John for his years having the chair for Prince.