At the tender age of three, Derrek C. Phillips had already amassed a deep passion for music. Since then, he has carved out an exciting musical career as a performer, composer, and educator.

By the time he was six, his parents deemed it necessary to introduce their youngest son to formal music training. Over the years, he has been involved with several youth and community orchestras and drum corps including the Concord Blue Devils drum and bugle corps.

He received his bachelor's degree in music at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, in 1998. He took private lessons with Horace Arnold, Yoron Israel, John Riley and the late, great TONY WILLIAMS. After several years in New York City, Derrek and his family decided to make Nashville his new home. In 2014, he became HANK WILLIAMS JR’S drummer. That same year, Derrek received a Grammy for his performances on Mike Farris’s "Shine For All The People" on drums and percussion. He now chairs the drum set for chart-topping Country artist BRETT ELDREDGE.

His drumming can be heard on VANESSA WILLIAMS’ "The Real Thing", MICHAEL MCDONALD’S "This Christmas" and ROBBEN FORD’S "Purple House". He continues to make appearances and recordings with other artists like BONNIE TYLER, GLORIA GAYNOR, DR. JOHN, ALISON KRAUS, JOHN CARTER CASH, JAMES OTTO , JIMMY HALL, TOMMY SIMS, DELBERT McCLINTON,GARY NICHOLSON, RACHEL LAMPA, IRMA THOMAS, KURT ELLING, EVEN STEVENS, CHARLIE HUNTER, MIKE FARRIS,THE McCRARY SISTERS, CHARLIE PEACOCK, JAACK PEARSON, SHELLY FAIRCHILD, ERIN BODE, and LEE FIELDS. He performed on BET (Black Entertainment Television, )CBS Early Morning Show, The American Country Countdown Awards and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. Derrek continues to tour and recognize record all over the globe.

As an educator, he spent many years working with many marching bands, drum corps, and jazz ensembles. From writing jazz arrangements and marching drill design to facilitating master classes and private lessons, Derrek has done it all. He is currently drum set instructor at both Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University.

Derrek has his own solo project entitled Derrek Phillips’ Manufactory. Their music is a unique blend of hip-hop, rock, improv, electronica, drum-n-bass, jazz, and spoken word. Their first outing, "Offering" is out on Rope-a-dope Records.

Derrek Phillips is currently endorsed by Pearl Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Alclair Audio In-ear montiors, Drum Dots and Vater Sticks.