American DNA Music

He has been my banjo teacher for the last five years.

Derwin is well known throughout the area as an excellent musician and teacher.

His forte is at bluegrass music, as well as country. He is a virtuoso on the banjo, guitar, dobro and steel guitar, as well as the fiddle.

He has written and recorded dozens of his own songs.

He is a patient teacher and has endowed many of his students with a never ending love for music.

In the summer, once a week his front porch is turned into a get together for all local musicians to come and jam.

He is a family man and his charming wife accompanies him on the stand up bass.

Derwin has left a big impression on the music scene in the greater Wilmington area and his leaving Wilmington will be a great loss to all of us.

I am 80 years old. In my life’s journey I have met a few people who stand out as exceptional, in my opinion, and among them at the top of the list is Derwin Hinson. Throughout the first 75 years came my education, meeting my wife, the birth of my children and of course work. During this time I spent all of my spare time that I could afford hunting or fishing all over the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rico, Panama, Caribbean and Hawaii

Then in my seventies my legs wore out and I needed to replace my knees which did not turn out great, then I broke my femur and got arthritis in my feet. In 2014 I was fishing in Florida with a friend of mine and he said to me, John when you get home you need to sell your boat. I realized that he was right and sold my boat.

That is when God put Derwin Hinson in my life. He was working to help this praise band from our church get started and I had the opportunity the sing with them, I believe at that time I was 76 years old. After a few months I thought well it might be nice to try and play the guitar. In all my life I have had not one bit of musical training or talent.

In January of 2015 I bought a guitar and started taking lessons from Derwin. This has gone so well that I don’t even think about fishing or hunting. I have gotten to the point to where I can pick and play a few tunes. His patience is so amazing, I don’t understand how a man with his talent can listen and play with a smile on his face while his students fumble through the chords.

All I know now is that I have a hobby and something to do until I am an old man. I thank God for bringing Derwin into my life and I know that most of his students feel the same

Thanks Forever