Album Notes

Hi, my name is Derick Riley also known as “Mr. Derby”. I am a song writer, musician and poet. At an early age I developed a great love for music, often breaking the family record player trying to get the thing to work. Later I began writing my own music and songs. You see I believe music is the voice through which the soul speaks. I play several instruments but the keyboard is my favorite. As a musician I play by ear and I have quite an ear for music. I have been playing seriously now for about fifteen years.
I’ve been working with children all of my life. You see my mom started caring for children in 1964, when she founded The Nursery Hut Child Education Center. I along with my brothers and sister worked and eventually taught at the centers that we established. I attained my C.D.A. (Child Development Association Degree) in 1993 teaching, 3 and 4 year olds.
I developed a music program for The Nursery Hut. We would start each morning off singing songs and dancing to conventional children songs but to my original music. Later on I started playing music at the end of the day, to keep the little ones from getting restless while waiting for mom and dad. Soon after that, I began receiving request from various parents for copies of the songs I performed, so that they could be played at home. Just my luck, one of the parents, Keith Washington, was able to help me with the recording my first CD thus “Mr. Derby’s Nursery Jams Live” Volume I was born. I have currently completed volume II of a four volume series.
When it was decided to close The Nursery Hut in 2004, I decided to take my musical show on the road. I perform regularly with DC Public libraries and other Child Care Organizations throughout DC MD and VA.
I assure you, you’ve never experienced anything like a Mr. Derby Jam session.