Dan sits down with Philadelphia music community icon and long-standing champion Derek Dorsey. He's booked and promoted thousands of shows at The Fire, Underground Arts, The Blockley, and Electric Factory, if you played in Philadelphia in the last 25 years, you worked with Derek at some point.
In Part 1, Derek reminisces about growing up in Overbrook, early concerts, his love of music, and his early career as a social worker working with at-risk youth in Philadelphia. In an attempt to raise money via a benefit concert, Derek got his first taste of being part of the business from behind the scenes, and the rest is history. Dan and Derek talk about the Philly music scene in the 90s and early 00s, the bands in Derek's orbit (Town Hall, June Rich, Huffamoose, etc), and how he made his career, even if (according to him) he had no idea what he was doing.
Derek was diagnosed with a very rare version of trigeminal neuralgia, a neurological disease that attacks the body with sharp, sudden bursts of pain. It has been treatable to varying degrees of success, but the illness is chronic and incurable. Derek and friends started a foundation called 'We Live On', which helps Derek and his family, as well as provides assistance and resources to others who are going through similar situations. They host benefit concerts, including two upcoming ones, both at Ardmore Music Hall: Sunday, March 30th with Mason Porter, Frog Holler and Travel Lanes, and on Saturday, May 3rd, We Live On presents The Soul Of Quincy Jones: York Street Hustle and Special Guests. Go to the AMH website for all your event and ticket information.