Happy Birthday Derek Trucks: 5 Memorable Guest Appearances

Today marks the 39th birthday of acclaimed guitarist Derek Trucks of the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Derek has been burning up fretboards since parents bought him his first instrument was when was nine and quickly forged a signature style all his own. The Jacksonville native joined the legendary Allman Brothers Band by the time he was 20 and remained a member of the group through their final shows in 2014.

Since 2010, Derek has been fronting the Tedeschi Trucks Band along with his wife Susan Tedeschi. His awe-inspiring lead guitar work and unparalleled slide skills are one of the key components of the 12-piece ensemble’s sound. Trucks continues to innovate both as a player and a songwriter.

In honor of Derek’s birthday, let’s look at a series of five times the versatile and talented guitarist sat-in with bands throughout the years. The first clip finds Trucks teaming with Soulive as part of the trio’s Bowlive III run at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City. Watch as Derek goes toe-to-toe with Eric Krasno during an incredible cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” captured by videographer MKDevo on March 10, 2012:

Derek Trucks first sat-in with Widespread Panic when he was just 14-year-old on March 19, 1994. The guitarist has gone on to perform with the veteran jam act more than a dozen times over the years including a pair of guest spots in 2016. On April 23, 2016 Derek added to the group’s encore at the Legacy Arena At The BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. One of the highlights of the four-song encore was an inspired “Surprise Valley” featuring otherworldly slide work from Trucks. Watch official video shared by Widespread Panic:

While few details accompany this video of a purportedly 13-year-old Derek Trucks sitting-in with The Allman Brothers Band on “One Way Out,” it’s just too good not to share. Derek brought the house down with a fierce solo years before he joined the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame act. Check out the clip shared by Steve Nourse:

On April 12, 2014 Gov’t Mule welcomed Derek to jam on a cover of Billy Cobham’s “Stratus” at the Wanee Festival in Live Oak, Florida. The chemistry between longtime ABB mates Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes was on display throughout the collaboration. Watch footage captured by 8baseballgeek:

The final guest appearance in this collection came just a few weeks ago. In 2006 and 2007 Derek Trucks toured as a member of Eric Clapton’s band. Trucks has gone on to sit-in with his old boss a number of times since. On May 26, 2018 both the Tedeschi Trucks Band and Eric Clapton performed at the Greenwich Town Party in Greenwich, Connecticut. Eric invited Derek and Susan to join in on his encore that night. Watch Clapton, Tedeschi, Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II all slay “Crossroads” in footage captured by Larry Rulz Too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCi8x142Uy0