DEREK

B.M. in Music Composition - UNCSA

M.M. in Music Composition - UNCSA

Derek Wesley Arnold is an American composer, songwriter, and performer. He began learning at the piano when he was four with the help of his father, Harvey Dalton Arnold: bassist for the legendary Southern Rock band The Outlaws. Derek also plays guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, clarinet, and sings. His versatility has led to multiple tours of the United States and countless hours of session work.
​Derek has performed with Grammy-winning performer and producer Jimmy Hall (Jeff Beck, Hank Williams, Jr., Wet Willie), Drummer/Percussionist/Tech Nick Campbell (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rickey Medlocke), Drummer Kenny Soule (Nantucket, DAG), Nick Hagelin (The Voice/Superstition TV Shows, Interscope Records, Carolina Ballet), Daniel "The Reverend Slick" Ballinger (Oh Boy! Records), world-renowned blues label Music Maker Relief Foundation, Jim Quick and Coastline, and many others.     
Derek also served for two years in AmeriCorps.
Derek earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition and his Master of Music Degree in Composition at the conservatory University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he studied under Dr. Lawrence Dillon and Mr. Kenneth Frazelle. Derek’s classical music has been performed by the Winston Salem Symphony, the Wachovia Winds, the UNCSA Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Cantata Singers, and many others. His music has also been recorded by the Daedalus Quartet, Yael Manor, and Lindsay Kesselman to name a few.
​Derek now lives in Lexington, NC where he is happily married to Lisa Bledsoe.

Dorton Arena - Raleigh, NC • Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC • The Pour House - Raleigh, NC • The North Carolina Museum of Art - Raleigh, NC • The Cat’s Cradle - Carrboro, NC • Elmwood Park - Roanoke, VA • Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC • Biltmore - Asheville, NC • Mint Museum - Charlotte, NC • Watson Hall - Winston Salem, NC • Wait Chapel - Winston Salem, NC • Blackmon Amphitheatre - Mount Airy, NC • Buddy Guy’s Legends - Chicago, IL • Spanish Galleon - Myrtle Beach, SC • Georgia Aquarium - Atlanta, GA • Cincy Blues Fest - Cincinnati, OH • Milwaukee Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI • Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival - Albany, NY • Lafayette Square - St. Louis, MO • Chan’s Blues Club - Woonsocket, RI • Silver Dollar Room - Toronto, ON • Kitchener Blues Festival - Kitchener, ON, and many more.

VENUES PLAYED

CONTRIBUTIONS

Jim Quick and Coastline (award-winning national touring act)

  • bassist/vocalist/songwriter

  • 2023 CBMA Song of the Year - 843

“The Lullaby Project” by Carnegie Hall and Kendra Harding

  • arrangements and recordings

Music Maker Relief Foundation

  • multiple live appearances with many signed artists

Daniel “The Reverend Slick” Ballinger (Oh! Boy Records)

  • bass on North American Tour

Amanda Daughtry (national recording/touring artist, on-air radio personality)

  • multiple live appearances

Nick Hagelin (“The Voice” finalist, national recording artist, tv/film actor)

  • bass on “Nice To Be Here”

  • multiple live appearances