KINGSTON, Jamaica — Any dance that took place in Linstead, St Catherine, during the early 1980s Derrick Scott was likely to be there.

Stur Gav, Taurus International and Jah Love were just some of the sound systems he followed.

But by mid-decade, the aspiring deejay got ‘saved’ and became a Christian. He has been singing for the Lord ever since.

Now living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Scott is preparing to release The Mission, his second album, later this year. It will be preceded by a five-song EP this month.

His first album, Preachers Nowadays, was released in 2014.

Scott, 51, told OBSERVER ONLINE that The Mission is similar in message and direction to his debut.

“Both have originals and traditional gospel songs. However, the production is more on point to where I am heading,” he said.

Zion is a Holy Place, a medley of gospel favourites, and the standard Amazing Grace, are the traditional cuts from The Mission. 

A spiritual take on the 1971 Freddy McKay reggae classic, Picture on the Wall, is also included.

Scott is the younger brother of McKay, a talented singer who died at age 39 in 1986.

Dennis Brown, John Holt and his brother are his biggest musical influences.

“As a bigger brother who was involved in music professionally, I studied all Freddy’s songs and always enjoyed performing,” said Scott.

The Linstead Derrick Scott grew up in was a musical hotbed. Rocksteady great Phyllis Dillon is from the St Catherine market town, so too Joseph Hill and the Soul Defenders Band which played at Studio One in the early 1970s.

The teenaged Scott was more into Josey Wales and Lieutenant Stitchie, but after his conversion, he concentrated solely on the Word and recording inspirational music.

Moving to South Florida in 1996, he joined the El Shadai Pentecostal Church where his brethren encouraged him to record, which resulted in Preachers Nowadays.

While he respects the boundaries of traditional gospel, Scott does not limit his sound.

“Even if I am covering a traditional song, I do it with a beat and melody that everyone can relate to, and once the music appeals to young people, they will get the message in the lyrics,” he said.

Derrick Scott’s self-produced The Mission will be released on his DScott label.

Howard Campbell