Biography

LA Music Award Winner!
Male Singer/Songwriter of the Year 2006-2007

Lou Derr was born at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. From the time he could reach the keyboard on the old family upright Lou has been playing music. Lou wrote his first song when he was 14. Traditional Country Music at heart, mixed with the sounds of the great Southern Rock bands of the 70s, Lou has come up with a unique sound that has put him on stage with legends like Marshall Tucker Band, Waylon Jennings and Charlie Daniels just to name a few. Lou was lucky enough at the age of 15-18 to work at "The Factory" in Berkeley Ca. For CCR. Lou set up equipment and other duties for the ..1 band in the world at the time. "It was a life changing experience working every day with my Hero John Fogerty." Lou even owned John's famous red "ric" guitar. It now sits in Memphis at the Hard Rock Cafe as the center piece of the CCR display where it belongs. Lou has performed several opening shows at the ..1 venue in the U.S. under 4000 seats, Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. He has opened for almost every Top Country headliner that has come through Lake County at one time or another. At age 14 Lou stepped up on to his first stage to do a live radio show in the Bay Area. It was an experience Lou would never forget. The rush of the crowd clapping to Haggard's hit "Corina, Corina" was all it took for Lou to be hooked on performing live. Lou signed his first record deal in the 9th grade with a 1 hit record company out of Vallejo, Ca. (Oh Happy Day), Lou recorded two singles that played on the local radio station KSAN FM (Underground in those days) through out the Bay Area and sold the 45s out of the back of his van. Lou learned all he could over a 4 year period with the guys in CCR. " I learned every Fogerty lick note for note". Lou recorded 2 songs at Hyde St. Studios where CCR recorded most of their albums. "Studio D is where all the Fogerty magic was put on tape." At the age of 19 Lou moved to Lake County California and put together a few bands over the years in 1985 The Bootleg Band, billed as Lou Derr & Bootleg now was born. 1986-1990 were a big years for Lou taking the honors at the Saddle Rack in San Jose, Ca. at the Marlboro Country Talent Roundup. The following years he was regional first in the Wrangler Star search 2 years straight. Then a DOD Tour took Lou all overseas for a while. And a TNN debut TV show was after that. Lou's style of "Rockin' Country" could best be summed up like if Fogerty decided to play Country Music. Country with a Rockin' beat. Lou's self-penned album Santa-Fe was recorded and released in Derr's Main Street Studios in the resort town of Lower Lake, Ca. With 10 original songs recorded a 5 song video was produced as a booking tool. Several record deal offers came through during the mid 90's that Lou passed on. "It would have took more financial backing than we had or could come up with" Waiting and writing Lou is still going after it in hopes to fo it the Indie Way. Lou performes at several Concerts in the Parks each year in several towns. and is co-originator of The Summer Concert Series in Lakeport, Ca. LD&B have hit it up again and are booking their Summer tour of Northern California, playing Rodeos, Casinos and Wineries, BBQ's You name it. The reviews are awsome! Dates are being booked through the end of the year. Hopefully a sponsor will come along and a long awaited new CD can be put together this year as well. Lou has put together the finest and most seasoned players in the area. The Band is "Hot" and the "Sound" is "Rockin' Country"! We thought that a Rock drummer made more sense and a multi-talented bass player who can bring many things to the sound was a good idea. If we need the strong down beat and we're doing some CCR covers, then you need a hard hittin' drummer behind the kit. So we hooked up with Charwin and michael fron a local band " Broken ground" to handle our thump section. Everyone else fits in like gravy on spuds. It has been a challenge teaching or converting a rock section to the "country" beats but it's worked out great and getting better by the day. Airplay is happening and Santa Fe is currently playing on over 2800 radio and internet radio stations Internationally. "WE are getting web hits from all over the world now, and we are very happy about that. There is no borders when it comes to Music!