Derrick Tabb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Derrick Tabb
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![]() Tabb (on snare drum) in a second-line parade in New Orleans (2007)
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Background information | |
Born | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
May 27, 1975
Occupation(s) | Musician, educator |
Instruments | Drum |
Derrick Tabb (born May 27, 1975) is an American musician. He is a long-time member of the famous Rebirth Brass Band. He also helped start The Roots of Music. This is a special program that helps kids in New Orleans with school and music after classes. When he performs, Tabb plays the snare drum with cymbals. He grew up in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Derrick Tabb was born in the Tremé area of New Orleans, Louisiana. This neighborhood is known as "The Birthplace of Jazz." He started playing drums when he was just 7 years old. By the age of 11, he was already earning money as a professional drummer. Tabb went to Andrew J. Bell Middle School. He joined the band there. He says his middle school band director, Donald Richardson, helped him a lot in life and with his music.
Music Career Highlights
In 1994, Tabb and his friends started a band called Loony Tunes Brass Band. Later, they changed its name to Hot 8 Brass Band. Tabb left this band in 1996 to join the Rebirth Brass Band.
As a member of the Rebirth Brass Band, Tabb won a big award. He received a Grammy Award in 2012. This was for their album called Rebirth of New Orleans. It won in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category.
Helping Kids with The Roots of Music
In 2007, Tabb co-founded The Roots of Music. This is a non-profit program that helps kids after school. It is for children aged 9 to 14 in New Orleans schools. The program helps about 140 students every year. There is also a long waiting list of about 400 students.
After Hurricane Katrina, many schools cut funding for music programs. This especially affected middle schools. So, Derrick Tabb and Allison Reinhardt started The Roots of Music. It is an after-school program for kids in Orleans Parish. Local music teachers and professional musicians teach the students about music. Volunteers and university students from Tulane and Xavier help with homework and tutoring. Tabb said his goal was to do for a new generation of kids what his own middle school band did for him.
From Monday to Thursday, the program's buses pick up students. They come from 40 different middle schools in Orleans Parish. The buses take them to the program's building in the Tremé neighborhood. For the first hour and a half, students get help with their homework. After that, they have music lessons and practice. Before going home, students also get a hot meal. The program is completely free for the students. It relies on donations and volunteers to keep going.
The Roots of Music Crusader Band and Tabb have won many awards. These awards are for both school success and music. Tabb was a top finalist for the CNN Heroes Award in 2009. He also received the Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award in 2011. He was a finalist for the Energizer Keep It Going Hall of Fame in 2010. Tabb has also received special honors from the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana for his work with kids.
In 2013, the band marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California. A 6-year-old, Lawrence Honoré Jr., was the youngest person ever to participate in the parade.
On August 29, 2015, President Barack Obama visited New Orleans. He was there to mark 10 years since Hurricane Katrina. A small group from The Roots of Music performed before his speech. The president even praised the band during his speech.
The "Tremé Two" Incident
On October 1, 2007, Tabb and his brother, Glen David Andrews, were involved in an incident. It happened in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. They were part of a gathering honoring a fellow musician, Kerwin James. James had passed away in 2006. A crowd of musicians and people had gathered to play music and sing for James. Police officers asked the crowd to leave. When they did not, Tabb and Andrews were stopped.
This event was seen by news reporters. It caused a lot of discussion in the community. Many people were upset because street parades are a big part of New Orleans culture. The community saw Tabb and his brother as speaking up for them. They gave them the nickname, "The Tremé Two." After several weeks of community protest, the charges were dropped in February 2008. A story based on this incident was even shown in an episode of the HBO TV series, Treme. Tabb and Andrews played themselves in the show.
Music Recordings
Derrick Tabb is the snare drummer on all studio and live recordings by the "Rebirth Brass Band" since 1997. You can find a full list of these recordings in the Rebirth Brass Band - Discography article.
Tabb has also appeared as a guest musician on other albums. He played on the song ¿Which Side Are You On? by Ani DiFranco in 2012. His Roots of Music Crusader Band also played on this track. He was also a featured artist on the 2010 movie soundtrack For Colored Girls.
Tabb also helped write songs for the Rebirth Brass Band. These include:
- "Do It Again" from the Grammy-winning album Rebirth of New Orleans (2012)
- "Move Your Body" from the album Move Your Body (2014)
- "Rebirth Groove" from the album Move Your Body (2014)
- "Why You Worried Bout Me" (single) (2011) – this song was in the TV show The Originals.
TV Shows and Movies
Television
- The 3rd Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute (2009)
- CNN's Larry King Live (August 21, 2009)
- HBO'S Treme (2010-2013)
- Season 1, episode 1 "Do You Know What it Means" - Tabb can be seen playing drums in a second line parade.
- Season 3, episode 1 "Knock with Me, Roll with Me" - Tabb plays himself. He is with his real-life brother, Glen David Andrews. They are stopped for playing music at a street memorial. This episode is a story based on the real event in 2007. The community called them "The Tremé Two."
- Series finale, season 4, episode 5 "...To Miss New Orleans"
- 48 Hours Presents: The Whole Gritty City (2014). This episode of 48 Hours won a Christopher Award.
Films
- The Skeleton Key (2005), as a member of the Rebirth Brass Band
- The Whole Gritty City documentary (2013), as himself. This film shows him preparing The Roots of Music Crusader Band for Mardi Gras parade season.
Awards and Honors
- 2009 - CNN Heroes (Top Finalist)
- 2009 - City of New Orleans Proclamation (Awarded)
- 2010 - Energizer Keep It Going Hall of Fame Nominee (finalist)
- 2011 - Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award (Awarded)
- 2011 - Young Leadership Council Role Model Award (Awarded)
- 2011 - OffBeat Magazine - Best of the Beat Award for Music Education (Awarded)
- 2012 - (with Rebirth Brass Band) Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album
- 2012 - City of New Orleans Proclamation (Awarded)
- 2015 - Millennial Award - Cultural Ambassador (finalist)
- 2015 - Katrina First Cultural Responder (Honored)
- 2015 - Louisiana Children's Museum Silver Linings Award (Honored). This was for "making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of young children in the community following Hurricane Katrina".
See also
- Rebirth Brass Band
- The Roots of Music
- Tremé (neighborhood in New Orleans)
- HBO's Treme TV show