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Performing first took place at church and has become the venue for most of his musical life having served as music pastor at several churches. While on staff at a private school as the music teacher, Darrell picked up a ukulele thinking it would be great to use with the younger grades. That's when he fell in love with the little instrument and it became his accompaniment of choice.
Darrell enjoys covering songs as well as performing original compositions. His style could be described as an eclectic mix of Jim Croce, Chris Tomlin and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. (If you don't know who that is, google IZ.)
I was visiting Washington DC several years back, sitting on a bench in Lafayette Square directly across from the White House, when I was approached by two gentlemen with a video camera. They were from Denmark on a four year trip around the world, filming a documentary about peoples' dreams and takes on life. When asked, I told them that I had come up from Florida that morning for the purpose of praying for our nation. They asked if they could film that. For the next 30 minutes I stood in front of the White House with my ukulele singing a song I had written as a prayer from 2 Chronicles 7:14 that says, "Hear our cry. Heal our land. Show us your grace and your mercy." Because of lighting and wanting different angles, they must have done about 10 takes. This had to be the most prestigious place I have ever busked. Nobody threw any money however.
While in college I was singing a solo from the piano at church while the offering was being received. In the middle of the song my mind went blank and I could not remember the lyrics, chords or even the key I was in. Instead of gracefully stopping at that point I tried to fake it. It was not pretty. In fact it was horrific! Maybe trying to impress the pretty young lady that had come in that morning was a bad idea?
My first instrument was my father's guitar that I learned to play on. He had bought it from a friend because the friend wanted to buy a Martin. It had no case, the strap was actually a heavy cord which dug into my shoulder because the body was made of metal. It served me well through High School but when I left for college it was put in the corner of my bedroom where it stayed for a long time. Many years later my dad asked me if I would like it since I had actually played it much more than he ever did. Sure! It had sentimental value. The first thing i decided to do was finally get a case for this old guitar seeing as how it had made it through my adolescence. When the guitar guy at the counter saw it his jaw dropped and he said, "That's a National!" I hadn't a clue. I called National Guitars and gave them the serial number. What I had was a 1932 "O" style, nickel plated, German bell brass body guitar. Later I traded it in for some recording equipment. Doh! I could kick myself.
