Derrick Bounds is a native of Chicago, Illinois, growing up taking private lessons in Classical, Jazz and Gospel Music.  Beginning studying piano at age 11 under Juanita Calermee of Maywood, IL, Dennis Smith of Chicago, IL Alan Swain of Evanston, IL and later Kevin Gainer of Waukegan, IL, and the Chicago Conservatory of Music.

Although growing up without musical parents, Derrick grew up with music in the household with his father listening to Aretha Franklin and James Brown and listening to Jazz (even though he couldn’t understand it at the time) introduced by his mom.  “As a teenager I was listening to everything musical…Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Joplin, Ellington, Carpenters, Marsalis…..”

Derrick has played with such notables as Otis Clay, Garland Green, Danny Boy, T.C. Carson as well as local artists D-Erania, Chris Zamora Group.  Derrick also occasionally works with Chicago based Black Ensemble Theater.  Derrick has also written music for “Indie” films.