Derrick Scott on a mission
ONE year ago, Derrick Scott took the stage at Unity New Testament Church of God in Fort Lauderdale and delivered a performance so rapturous, members of the congregation encouraged him to record it live.
He did just that, and on November 16 launched Mission Ablaze Live at the same location. The album has 12 songs, five of which he performed last week.
“The feeling was great, knowing it was something I wanted to do. It feels really good, especially when I see the reaction of the people, and I could tell they were having a good time,” Scott told the Jamaica Observer.
A Stranger, There is No Secret, Zion Medley, Everyday With Jesus and Some Preachers Nowadays are the songs from Mission Ablaze Live Scott performed. He produced the 12-song set with assistance from Willie Lindo of Heavy Beat Records and Danny Breakenridge of Upstairs Music.
It is the Linstead-born Scott’s fourth album since his conversion to Christianity 25 years ago. He enjoyed doing an in-concert set.
“The difference when recording, you have the option to re-record and choose from different takes. I find recording easy, especially working in the studio with Willie Lindo,” Scott said. “When performing live with musicians who know your material, that is also easy.”
Mission Ablaze Live also includes Since I Met You Jesus, a spin on soul singer Ivory Joe Hunter’s classic 1956 ballad, Since I Met You Baby. Scott also covers There is No Secret, a gospel standard made popular in Jamaica (as It is No Secret) by country singer Jim Reeves.
Derrick Scott is the younger brother of Freddie McKay, a soulful singer known for hits such as Picture On The Wall and Dance Dis Ya Festival, which won the 1975 Festival Song Competition.
His own career began as a deejay in the early 1980s but shortly after migrating to South Florida a decade later, Scott became a Christian and began recording spiritual songs.
Preacher Nowadays, On A Mission and Gospel Truth are his previous albums.