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Born and raised in Griquet, Newfoundland, a small town on the Northern Peninsula, Derek Pilgrim has loved music since he was a lad. "When I was a kid I used to entertain the other kids by playing the straw broom." said Derek in a recent interview. I won't mention Derek's age, however, Derek says, "I first remember listening to music when we had the old battery radios, or what was called dry-cell radio and my dad would get upset with me because I would stay up all night listening to music, and when it came time for him to listen to the news, the battery's were always dead." Derek says when they first got electricity, he would listen to record albums and write the words down and sing them."
Derek moved to Toronto at the age of sixteen and landed himself a job almost immediately. I think everyone remembers their first paycheck and what they bought. "I bought a $30.00 guitar and a Hank Williams songbook, and I started learning songs," says Derek.

In 1971 Derek formed his first band 'The Epics.' They performed at small bars and draught rooms. Even though the legal age was 21 back then, the underage boys' still managed to get the jobs.
An advent lover of music, singing and playing, Derek was always checking out what was happening around him. He heard of a talent show that was being held at the Moose Lodge on the Lakeshore. The MC was Carol Baker (who at the time hadn't made a name for herself) The first prize was a recording contract. Two of the songs Derek recorded were "I'm Lonesome For My Friends And My Home" and "Trio On A Bandstand" both written by Derek. "I was a fan of Roy Payne's and Roy gave me two of his songs to record as well." says Derek. They were "Newfie Boy" and "Devil in my Veins." Derek's next band was "Mistee Morning." I first heard Derek perform at the El Condor, a nightclub on highway 27 at Albion Road in Rexdale, Ontario. Ron and I were dating at the time. We enjoyed Derek and Mistee Morning, but neither of us knew at the time that Derek was from Newfoundland.

During his time with Mistee Morning, Derek recorded a song called "She Still Means The Whole World To Me" CFGM (Toronto's voice of country music for years, until it changed format recently) charted Derek's song for two years.

"Over the years I've opened up for Ferlin Husky Ed Bruce, Ian Tyson, and Myrna Lori". To name a few," Derek told me. "I've played in a lot of bars in Toronto such as the Horseshoe Tavern, the Birchmount, the El Condor, the Yorktown Tavern, the Palomino, the Rosetown Inn, the Place de Royale, and not forget the famous Caribou Club in Toronto.

In the early part of his career, Derek's music leaned more towards country and Rock & Roll styles of music, playing very little Newfoundland music, but like the times that too changed.

In 1990 Derek recorded his first Newfoundland album entitled just that "Newfoundland." This cassette of ten songs, all written by Roy Payne holds different feelings and memories of Newfoundland for the Griquet kid. The title track "N-E-W-F-O-U-N-D-L-A-N-D" tells what each letter means for that boy away from home. Other numbers on this album include. Can't Take The Bay From The Boy, The Dory Boat Man, Someone Must Have Stole The Train, Everybody Back Home Misses You, and of course the all-time favourite on the Downhome Radio Shows, "Mommas Long Black Hair." The song "Momma's Long Black Hair" is very popular back home on CFCB and KIXX radio stations as well.
In 1990, Derek went back home to do a tour. While on tour there he played the Hangashore Folk Festival in Corner Brook, at the arena in St. Anthony, also at clubs in Port Aux Choix, Rocky Harbour, Deer Lake, Port Aux Basques, plus two weeks at the Keg & Candle in the Valley Mall in Corner Brook.

Derek made live appearances on the Downhome Radio Show during it's four years on the air. Derek has played for many benefits around the Toronto area, some of which were benefits for the Downhome Radio Show.

Derek was also one of the "Singers For Fisherman" a wonderful collection of fifteen Newfoundland songs performed by thirteen of Newfoundland's well-known singers, the tape and CD was released in July of 1992.

Derek's career and personal life took a setback in May 1993, Derek suffered a heart attack and underwent by-pass surgery before being released from hospital. But that hasn't stopped the Griquet kid. He is back in the studio again putting the final touches on a second cassette and CD album. This one has a variety of music. "Eight of the songs written by long-time friend Roy Payne, and the other two written by my late friend Paul Clinch from Toronto, who traveled on tour with me a couple of times." added Derek.

"One of the songs on the new album which Roy has written for me is about when I fly home, called "When the Plane Touches Down in Deer Lake" says Derek. Other titles on this soon-to-be-released are, Simple Uncomplicated Thing, Going Home This Mother's Day, A-One Prescription For The Blues, A Lifetime Fishin' For Cod, Where Did Ole Yesterday Go, She Still Means The Whole World To Me, plus others.

Derek's first cassette, NEWFOUNDLAND, is filled with songs about his home province, in one way or another, even though they are not what's known as the traditional Newfoundland music, but Newfoundland music is country style. "Maybe should me call me a country and Eastern singer," says Derek, as I seem to sing downeast music with a country flavour more so then a Irish Style.

During our interview, I got a chance to hear the finished demo, I'm not from the Northern Peninsula, so my plane doesn't land in Deer Lake, but if you're flying destination is, I'm quite sure you'll enjoy this up-tempo tune called "When The Plane Touches Down In Deer Lake." "You're My Woman, You're My Lady" written by Paul Clinch, and I can definitely say Toronto has lost a fine song-writer.

If you can't be with your mom this Mother's Day, do the next best thing, send her a copy of Derek's new tape, or CD with "I'm Going Home For Mother's Day," after listening to the demo, I can assure you, it'll be well worth the wait!