Bb Bass – Derrick Curtis

I was brought up in The Salvation Army at Woking. At about the age of 8 I was taught to play the Cornet, but a little later I changed to Trombone like my Dad.

When the Young Peoples Band was reformed I made the move to Euphonium. On transferring to the senior band I moved onto 2nd Trombone in 1962 where I joined my dad who was playing the G Trombone (Bass).

During the next few years I had spells on G Trombone, Baritone, Tenor Trombone and Euphonium.

In 1967 the bandmaster at the time (Roy Burton) thought I would make a better Eb Bass player than Euph, so started my Bass playing days. Moved to Bb Bass in 1972 where I stayed for a number of years playing Eb or Bb Bass.

Another move in 1979 back onto Baritone until I left The Salvation Army in September 1981.

Took a break from banding until February 1990 when I joined the Bourne Concert Band on Tuba leaving at the end of September to join the Almac Bisley Band in October on Eb Bass.

At the beginning of 1991 moved onto 1st Trombone at Bisley.
At some stage in the late nineties I started to dep with Cobham band mostly on Eb Bass, as well as playing with Bisley. Then about 1997 I moved onto Bb Bass at Bisley.
Bisley was my main band who did not contest so in 2004 I became a full time dep with Cobham Band playing in my first contest at Folkestone in October and helping the band win the Best Bass Section prize. Then in November 2009 Lee asked me if I could dep for Saints at two Christmas concerts. I enjoyed it so much that I left Cobham at the end of January 2010 and joined Saints.
I was still playing with Bisley at this time but left them at the end of May 2010.
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