Derek Handy
What is your hometown?
Montgomery, Alabama
What is your current location?
Montgomery, Alabama
Who are your favorite composers/producers?
Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Alan Silvestri, Danny Elfman, David and Thomas Newman, Kurt Farquhar, Stanley A. Smith, Elvin Ross, Quincy Jones, Babyface, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
What is an interesting fun fact about you?
I am the youngest of 5 children born into a musical family. I am a descendant of W.C. Handy, also known as “The Father of the Blues”. As a music teacher, I used my young students as guinea pigs to test my instrumental compositions to make sure the right emotion was conveyed. I would have them close their eyes while listening, and share what the music made them see. I also wrote original songs for them as well as unique accompaniment tracks for them to perform to.
A recently retired elementary music teacher, my lifelong dream/goal has always been to make a living writing, producing, performing, and composing full time for various artist and TV/Film. I have acquired publishing agreements with over 35 companies and had song placements in over 320 shows such as: The Real Housewives Of Atlanta, America's Got Talent, 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, Steve Harvey Show, Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz Show, Cities of the Underworld, Dateline NBC ,Gotham, Ultimate Fighting Championship, Iyanla Fix My Life, Catfish, Love And Hip Hop, Basketball Wives, Married To Medicine, Fatal Attraction, Clean House, How Do I Look, People’s Choice Awards, Mary Mary, Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami, Man And Wife, Million Dollar Matchmaker, Toddlers And Tiaras, Super Soul Sunday, Parental Control, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Jersey Shore, Kimora Life in The Fab Lane, Bad Girls Club, True Life, Let's Make A Deal, America Now, Looking (HBO), Black Ink Crew Chicago, etc.
I am the writer, producer, engineer, and arranger of my material. I am also fortunate to have a wife to assist me with additional musical, technical, financial, and emotional support.