Derek L. Overton Sr. a.f.k.a. DLO now Gumbo Child was born December 7, 1976 in Chicago,Illinois his late mother Ora Overton a jazz singer/songwriter was a very popular name in Chicago at the time from singing in the local night clubs and working with many different people all over from the midwest to California had plenty hidden talents that passed over to her son. Leaving Chicago at the age of 3 with his mothers sister Emma to Springfield,Illinois John Hay homes aka (the projects) as the onl...
Derek L. Overton Sr. a.f.k.a. DLO now Gumbo Child was born December 7, 1976 in Chicago,Illinois his late mother Ora Overton a jazz singer/songwriter was a very popular name in Chicago at the time from singing in the local night clubs and working with many different people all over from the midwest to California had plenty hidden talents that passed over to her son. Leaving Chicago at the age of 3 with his mothers sister Emma to Springfield,Illinois John Hay homes aka (the projects) as the only child and 3 brothers grown and 1 sister grown Gumbo Child was a very quiet child but all that changed a little I believe it was the age of 5 when Gumbo Child started coming out from being raised by his aunt his mother sister who at the time was singing in a gospel group took him with her, and they would let Gumbo Child be the little drummer at rehersal paying attention closely Gumbo Child would bang on a cup,floor,his leg or anything to make a beat. at the age of 7 he began taking drum lessons getting frustrated at knocking on a drum pad and having no access to drums it faded slowly. Aunt emma the aunt to raise him was taking things to a different level for herself was interested in learning how to play piano and began teaching herself how to play through music books playing out loud Gumbo Child would listen and study it in his head then one day it seem to Gumbo Child that his aunt had pressed the wrong note which happens from time to time instantly went to the piano and began playing the notes of the song amazed at himself it bacame a challenge for him to learn other songs. Now living next to a church Gumbo Child would hear the choir singing next door and listen by the gate then began the mission God had stored for his future career. Gumbo Child and his aunt shortly joined the church under the leadership of the pastor Harry A. Mann who died shortly and the church elected a new pastor a man from down deep mississippi Reverend Silas Johnson who would be the man to bring the best challenge out of Gumbo Child by making him church organist at age 8 playing only with 1 finger loud but on key the church encouraged him to continue and he did. Having vocal skills from his late mother he also was asked to sing solo's by his pastor and other church members not knowing which 1 to go with Gumbo Child began practicing how to sing and play at home. now 12 yrs old in middle school he joined the school choir at franklin middle school and became a school favorite among others like james hemingway aka (Jazz) who was Gumbo Childs singing budy and later in high school singing partner, when Gumbo Child,Michael Wallace,James Day,James Hemingway,and 1 other became a group under the leadership of (Kathy Jones) music teacher with no name for the group you could tell we had no intentions of making it more but not the case with Gumbo Child then known only as derek seen different. The group began singing songs like (fair eastside) from the movie (Lean on me) and (If i ever fall in love again) by the group (Shy) and the group became the schools boyz 2 men. But the light clicked on for the Gumbo Child when the group started singing the national anthem wow!! for derek a kid raised in the hood eastside of springfield in a shot gun house this was it the chance to go somewhere Kathy Jones had the boys singing everywhere like for the mayor,govenor,armory,nursing homes,city tournaments,school student assemblys, but what kicked the door open was singing for the President of the United States George Bush Sr. it wasnt about the name it was the president of the United States re-election and that meant TELEVISION what are you kidding me what not poor/not rich kid wouldnt want that. There is more to tell you about the man most call the Gumbo Child - DLO - Dunn Dunn Dilly the pimp of Muzic so stay tuned and as Gumbo Child would say keep God first,Love yourself,and work hard to get what you want so you can appreciate it. God Bless!!
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