Derrick McGinty - The Star of Our Show and Light of Our Souls

That lovely and shining man was my roommate for a time when we sang and worked our tails off performing on the Spirit of NJ.  He enriched my life.  I've never laughed so hard in my life as when we lived together. He just made me laugh, laugh, laugh 'til we cried and our faces hurt!  I give thanks for Derrick! I am a lucky girl to have known him.  He will always be in my heart.   -Donna ;-)

Singing with Derrick was one of the highlights of my time with the (then) Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. At first I admired his voice but, after a short while, if there was anything of Derrick's that I wished to emulate it was his tranformative generosity and warmth. Derrick's musicality made him an exceptional performer but his spirit made him a star. Derrick lives on in anyone who ever saw him perform, or got to know him. That's a lot of people and gives me great comfort. I miss you Derrick -Brother Michael

Will always remember that big, powerful voice coming from a small body singing "Back Away" & Stop Shopping".  What a voice and a bright, wonderful spirit - you'll be missed.
-Lisa Sergeant

Derrick McGinty... you beautiful soul you! you tremendous force. you remarkable human being. you are an inspiration... you ARE (not were, you SO still exist... you shine on) - you are a singer who inspired and CONTINUES to inspire us all. THANK YOU DERRICK MCGINTY! you ARE "SINGER/PERFORMER OF THE (FILL IN THE BLANK)..." (YOU HAVE IT ALL IN SPADES, LOVE. a few years back you said a little somethin' to me on a tour we were on, and i'll never forget it, it changed my life... and i love you for it). 

It was always such a joy to perform with Derrick in the choir, he brought such power to the tenor section, then the amazing thing would happen when he would transform and become the soloist and just take the whole room higher and higher. He was a Jewel in our wondrous worship. I hope we can keep alive the spirit that gave us. Truly pure gold. I'll always have a bit of a laugh when I think of him just as when we would meet in the flesh.

My early images of the Church was watching Derrick perform and listening to his fantastic voice.  My first thoughts was "This guy is more flamboyant than anything I've seen at The Saint" and that's saying a lot!   At the Weed and Seed show, I watched the interaction between Billy and Derrick and I was blown away by the amount of love they shared with each other while performing.  I was blown away by Derrick's powerful and beautiful singing.

A month later, I joined the choir and the duo of Derrick and James teaching, cracking jokes, singing and being fierce leaders of the choir made me more than immensely awed by them.

Then there was Boston.  My first trip away and ooooooo chile, the shenanigans on that trip!

We were all dressing and I couldn't help but notice the huge python in Derrick's underwear and I just had to make a comment.  Shit, that thing was nearly bigger than him.  My adoration for him grew.

Derrick was one of the first people in the choir to make me feel like I belonged.  His sweetness really meant a lot to me.   Despite his height, he was one powerful man and he was not to be trifled with.  That man had fury in his voice and in his attitude. 

The Cali trip of 2005, we all bonded on that trip.   Derrick couldn't really hang with us like I would've wanted to because of his health issues and that scary asthma attack in Bolinas really worried me.  Still, he hung tough and you have to admire strength like that.

I miss performing with him so much.  I miss that white short sleeved pimp suit that he used to perform in.  I miss his changing hair colors and hair styles.
I miss his love, his strong love. his all compassing and radiant love.  I miss his soul,     Derrick was a strong, loving, soulful and gay Black man and he had such grace.  I hate writing about Derrick in the past tense.  It's just not real to me.   He's still here in my heart, in my soul, in my mind, in my thoughts.

We are given gifts to make life worth living.  Derrick is one of those gifts.  I'll always cherish and love him.

Sing with the angels, my fierce Tiger, you'll steal the show as usual!

Love you lots, Barbara

Condolences to all,

Derrick McGinty is our amazing little brother/sister. What style. What grace. What a talent. What a human being. Derrick will be missed, but I am celebrating his freedom from the chains this bitter earth can sometimes bring. I believe Derrick is the first to make his universal transition from our circle of political songsters.

Derrick was beyond category. I'll never forget him at Burning Man after our community meals doing the dishes in a French maid's outfit complete with bonnet. We strolled along the esplanade, me as a gospel yenta with big bressessess and him in green netting and grapes--haute couture from Atlantis. On the playa we were free as birds.

His free spirit is clearly all around us. His voice will always be there in "I Do, I Do," "Stop Shopping," "Back Away" and many of our greatest hits. As we continue to do our work, think of Derrick as you sing and let your voice join with his, shouting up to the heavens.

Peace and love all,
Brother James, choir director

 I keep thinking what a loss it is to the world to not have Derrick's energy channeling through it any longer.
 And then I kick myself and say, "No!  this just means that now we all are charged with the honor and responsibility to draw out more of ourselves, to give more heart, more energy, more love, more moxy, more pizzazz, more spirit, more fire to make up for his absence!"

It will take a village, a city, a country to garner our strength and energy to fill the void!  
But we must try valiantly.  We must be brave like Derrick.  

Thank you, Derrick for all you taught me.  I am charged by your spirit.
love
Monica

Derrick absolutely loved being a part of the choir. He would come back from every show and travels with amazing stories and a sparkle in his eyes.
He loved being a part of it. He loved the family that it was/is.

After crying for a bit when I heard the news, so many memories returned...
Derrick jumping out of a wrapped box at a show
Derrick doing dishes at burning man in his pleather maid outfit and pink rubber gloves
Derrick giving me a lap dance on the bus during our cali tour (and Rob filming it all!)
Derrick doing his famous sideways gospel jumping dance during Starbucks and Disney

He taught me so much about performing, how to give it all on stage and then some more. How to love the audience. How to always keep it fresh but use what is good and keep it, repeat it.

Then I felt compelled to go out and shop. I got the most awesome pair of red shoes (local shoe store of course)... Derrick must be playing a joke on me!

My eyes fill with tears and my heart aches at the passing of wonderful Derrick. He did a short film with me and my husband, and was so hysterically funny. We adored working with him and were fast friends ever since. Be with the angels, my darling.

When we were at Burningman in 2003, Derrick wore a French Maid costume for his clean up crew duty.  He was such a star, even washing out a freakin' cup, and he sang the whole time.  He brought the star quality to the stage, to the street, to the kitchen. He was the brightest star in our universe and I wish him great travels into the unknown. I love you, Derrick and miss you so much.

When you are young you think you will meet an infinite number of truly special people, but as you get older you realize how rare it is. Of course we are all special, but then some people are really special. Derrick was like that.