Derrington loved to work with woods and he especially loved the mandolin and the mandola. As a master craftsman, he was acknowledged as being soley responsible for elevating the quality of Gibson's products. Derrington was hired by Gibson in 1984 as their only mandolin repairman. He had also owned National Guitar Repair. His expertice in the instrument was made known by his quality repair of instruments including the repair of Bill Monroe's badly damaged Lloyd Loar. On November 13, 1985, Monroe's mandolin was beaten to splinters by a vandal and subsequently re-assembled by Derrington. It remained Monroe's primary instrument up to his last live performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Derrington was also an expert of Gibson Mandolins and was largely responsible for the development of the current line of Gibson Mandolins.

Derrington was promoted to General Manager of Gibson Original Acoustic Instruments. It was under his guidance where Gibson produced a complete line of fine quality mandolins, banjos and Dobros at the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase in Nashville.

It was almost one year ago that Ricky Skaggs played Monroe's mandolin at a tribute to Monroe in Nasvhille. During this event, it was announced that Philanthropst Bob McLean made it possible for the Country Music Hall of Fame to put the famed instrument on permanent display in their collection.

At the 80th birthday celebration for Earl Scruggs at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Derrington presented Scruggs with a custom-made banjo, "The Earl" with Earl's portrait painted on the resonator. "That's like writing home for five [dollars] and getting 10," said Scruggs as he accepted the gift.

Derrington never really considered himself a great musician -- he was very humble about his talent. He was an opera major in college and classically trained. He got his first mandolin when he was 20 and later became well known as a mandolin player and a tenor singer. Over the years, he performed with various groups and on numerous albums. He performed with Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, David Peterson & 1946, with Mike Snider on many Grand Ole Opry shows and most recently with Trayler Parker & The Propane Tanks.

Derrington is survived by his wife, Susan and his daughter Anna. Viewing will be tomorrow (Thursday, August 3, 2006) 3:30 - 5:30 and the service will follow at 5:30 at the Pettus Owen and Wood Funeral Home, 4506 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee. The burial will be Friday in Mississippi.

Seed Newsvine