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Student Not Singing The Blues

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JOSE PATINO GIRONA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

TAMPA - Like many teenagers, Derrick "Deejay" Young dreams of seeing his name in lights and making it big in the recording industry.

"I love to see people's reaction to song," said Young, 17. "I think music has an effect on everybody."

Unlike many teens, though, Young is laying the groundwork for his music career. He has written lyrics and recorded tracks for two rhythm and blues CDs.

He is performing Feb. 29 at the Blake High School auditorium in a program he assembled to raise money for the magnet school's performing and visual arts department.

"If it wasn't for the performing arts department, I don't think I would have gotten the inspiration to write the music and put the songs together," said Young, who developed the fundraising idea during the past school year.

The senior said he writes lyrics to inspire people. There are students who don't have parental support and others who come to school for show or to gossip, he said. He wants them to know they have to look within to succeed.

"You have to get it yourself," Young said. "It is not going to come to you. You have to go out there and work for it."

Young started singing in a church choir at age 4. At 9, he performed in a gospel musical, "Daddy, Please Don't Leave," at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

He performs in area talent shows and sings in a sextet at his church, Divine Father Community Outreach Ministry in Tampa. He also performs in school musicals, plays and concerts.

Majoring in creative writing has helped him improve his writing, he said, and given him the outlet to express himself in song.

"Creative writing helped me go outside my comfort zone and write things that are heartfelt things to me," said Young, of East Tampa.

Young, who has a 4.8 grade-point average, said he plans to major in performing arts at the University of Florida.

Blake Principal Jacqueline Haynes and English teacher John Fairweather said they have never had a student initiate and produce a fundraiser for the performing arts and visual department while attending the school.

They said Young has the talent and versatility to act in a drama, sing a ballad, dance or recite a poem.

Although Young performs R&B and rap, Fairweather compares him to crooners such as Nat King Cole.

"You could put him in the 1950s and he would be a recording star," Fairweather said.

For the show, Young will be backed by a band and dancers who have been rehearsing since September.

Mairnada Villafana, a dancer in the group and a Blake High senior, said she isn't surprised Young put the benefit together.

"He is mature for his age," said Villafana, 17, of West Tampa. "For me, he doesn't have the mentality of a regular high schooler."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Fundraiser for Blake High School's performing and visual arts department, including performances by Derrick "Deejay" Young, Top Prospects and The Accused

WHERE: Don Thompson Auditorium at Blake High, 1701 N. Boulevard

WHEN: 6 p.m. Feb. 29

TICKETS: $6 advance, $10 at the door; available at the school's box office or by contacting Young at (813) 401-9731 or godeejay90@yahoo.com

LISTEN: Hear a sampling of Young's music at www .myspace.com/deejayjamz

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 835-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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