Dereck Rose

When Dereck Rose first went to Israel, he intended to stay there for Three months, but ended up staying five years. In the Holy Land he discovered who he was. Jamaican born Dereck came to England as a child and grew up in Brixton south London. He discovered his musical talent in church and at 16 when he left school, the young man bought his first guitar, even though his mother and other people tried to discourage him, and against all odds, he taught himself to play it. His career in music took him to many countries, including the USA, Jamaica, Tunisia, France, Italy, Denmark and Germany. But it was in Israel that he perfected his art as a musician. “I was drawn to Israel from my Sunday school days when I heard all the Stories that took place in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and all those Amazing places that the Bible speaks about”, says Dereck. “I felt I was Destined to go there” He spent a month with a friend who’d invited him to the country, then after feeling a great zealousness, he packed his bags, took his guitar and headed for Tel-Aviv where he bought a tent and lived on the beach for almost three months. It was in “Lifta”, a beautiful abandoned Arab village in a valley near Jerusalem that he pitched his tent under some fig trees, and lived there for one whole year writing many of these beautiful songs. “It was truly a magical and peaceful place with spring water that made me so happy after I washed in it, and ancient stone houses that seemed to take me way back”, says Dereck, who speaks reminiscently of cooking on open fires and washing his clothes in the spring. While busking in Jaffa one day, two guys asked him if he was interested in forming a band with them. The band, “Roots Africa" went on to great success In Israel, gigging all over the country, playing festivals and appearing on National television. Dereck is an original and innovative musician/singer/ songwriter who can turn his very thoughts and feelings into lyrical musical literature which sounds good to the ears. He’s often been told by people that the way he plays his guitar reminds them of the legendary “Richie Havens. Dereck, a skilful guitarist and former London underground busker, has performed at many big festivals as well as small pubs and clubs around Europe. He has a way of mesmerising any crowd that he plays to, and is a musical genius coming from afar.