Let Me Clairify

Derek Mohr, sophomore from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, is the drum set player for the Morningside Jazz ensemble “M Avenue Jazz”. Mohr’s love for music didn’t begin with Jazz and his aspirations definitely don’t end with Jazz. He hopes to one day become a rock and roll drummer with a touring band and is willing to put in the time and effort to do so.

Derek got his start in music as an 8 year old in Texas who was emulsified in the Dallas blues scene, growing up a native of Sachse, Texas. There were local bands constantly playing when he would go downtown with his parents, who were also music lovers. Young Derek seen the guitarist strum away and play impressive solos, he seen the singer steal the show, but when I asked him what he thought the best part was he said “I was so young I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I just felt the guy swinging the sticks around in my soul”.

While Derek was attracted to blues outside the house inside the house his dad was playing something different on the radio. Texas rock band ZZ Top would play in the car, in the kitchen, and even the garage. Derek couldn’t escape the rock, nor did he want to, and again he felt the pulse of the song in his soul. A little older now he could recognize and understand what it was. Around the age of 10 he finally asked his dad “who is that?”.

Frank Beard, 2004 Rock and Roll hall of fame inductee, and long time drummer for ZZ Top became Dereks obsession he had posters and CDs. Derek never stopped moving his hands or tapping his feet when they were playing. Derek said jokingly ” My love for ZZ Top had developed into a healthy childhood obsession”.

Once Derek heard of Frank Beard, he was all Derek spoke of and drums were all he asked for. His parents finally gave in to his wishes for his 11th birthday. When recalling his first drum set he said ” When I was 11 it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, in my head I was sure I had all the tools to become a rock legend” When I asked Derek how he feels about his first set now he said ” It didn’t have all the bells and whistles but It had everything I needed”.

At age 11 is when Derek started his journey to rock stardom. He would play after school and all through the weekends Music was such a big part of Texas, and Derek wanted to carve out a space for himself in that bit of culture. One year after Derek found his calling and started chasing his dreams his life got uprooted and he was forced to Move to Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.

Derek remained strong in his musical endeavors long enough to try out for the 7th grade jazz band and start in his first official band. Derek has been involved with the Jazz band every year of his life since then but has always been trying to get back to his roots in search of his first rock and roll band. for years his search efforts were fruitless, but just this last year Derek was able to find a guitarist and a vocalist interested in making music together. The only step left for Derek between everything he’s ever aspired to be, is choosing a name.