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| Vernon doing a show with Mass Ran at St. Benedict Catholic Church. |
I hope you read my story about me singing 'Fly Away Home' at the University Chapel, while a choir performed the same song. Oh yes, that choir director let me know that it was the choir's song. You would not believe it but my operator played the same song to start my show on air today!
I feel like sharing a little bit of my history with you. Hopefully you will understand where I am coming from.
My first acting experience was playing the 12-year-old Jesus at the Lover River United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman, while my brother Benny played baby Jesus. It was also where I first started experimenting with the organ. This is in Trelawny.
I picked up some basic skills in reading music while attending the Love River School. Since my family didn’t own an organ or piano, I often went to a nurse’s house to play her piano, or to a lady's house in Lowe River to practice on her organ. Her house had a fascinating story—I recall that a banana plane once crashed into it. If anyone reading this remembers her name, feel free to remind me.
Later, I attended Knox College as a boarder, where there were about seven pianos on the school compound. The music teacher - Miss Tucker (Handel Tucker's sister), recognizing my growing talent, generously offered to teach me free of charge. I told her my dream of playing at the school’s graduation. She initially thought I wouldn’t be ready in time, but I proved her wrong by playing the hymn 'Now Thank We All Our God' at the event. No one sang along, probably because my style of playing was a bit unconventional.
Word got out about my unique way of playing the piano, and soon I was invited to play at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Christiana. Mr. Hamilton, the principal of Holmwood Technical High School then, took me there, but once again, nobody sang. It turned out I was playing the hymns too fast, almost like a reggae version. The priest allowed me to stay after mass for practice for a few weeks with the congregation. Back then, Mass was conducted in Latin, and the hymns were usually sung very slowly, but I had my own uptempo rhythm.
As time passed, I began playing at various churches, including Spalding United Church and the Baptist Church in Litchfield, Trelawny. This was during the introduction of electronic organs, which had built-in drums and percussion instruments. I eventually mastered the bass pedals and began incorporating the influences of revivalist music that I’d heard at Salull Church near my home in Lime Tree.
My playing style was deeply shaped by revival music and reggae rhythms. It brought an energetic, joyful atmosphere to the church, and the congregation absolutely loved it.
When I moved to Kingston, my aunt Iolene Derby got me involved in the Catholic church in Harbour View, where Father Dufour was the priest. This is where things really took off for me. We had our first folk mass, with people like Sagwa Bennett on the double bass and Enie Smith singing. I felt a deep connection with this church because the congregation actively participated in the service, much like in Trelawny. People clapped, sang, and shouted “Hallelujah” while I played.
We played a huge part in promoting Jamaican music within the church, especially at St. Benedict’s in Harbour View and later at the Aquinas Centre when I joined Father Holung’s group. While I wouldn’t call myself a big-time singer, I truly love singing in church.
This story is getting long, so I’ll wrap it up. Many people might not realize how some of us helped to bring Jamaican music into our worship spaces. I’ve always worshipped in the Jamaican style, not in the formal way our colonial masters introduced. When the music is sweet, we join in, we sing, we shout, and we say praise the Lord, no matter the mood.
I’m proud to be a born and bred Trelawny man. I’ve had the privilege of dining with world leaders, even members of the Royal Family, but at the end of the day, I’m still just a humble poor boy from Trelawny. And I make no apologies for that. Next time you see me in church singing and being a part of a service, leave me alone. A me dat. If the leaders of the church don't like it, I will find another church :)
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| Playing the pedal organ |
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4 comments:
Mr Derby you might not have been aware of the impact you had playing the piano in Farquharson Hall at CAST in 1973-1974....
'Sly Mongoose ' & COME wi gu down to Solos Market.
It was the first time I was hearing those lyrics and I found it so entertaining. I smile every time I recall those days! I wish old time something will come back again!
Mr Darby I know u are jack of all trade.
Mr Derby. I remember that white shoes at St Benadict in Harbour View.
I heard you at CAST, 1973-1976, enjoyed the sinng and the music.
We need to restart that community and church effort by teaching the young what we know even if we have to open our doors to them.
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