Dr. Derrick Milton – el jefe
Though Derrick spent most of his life as a performer, he was eventually foolish enough to tackle the business side of music, creating music venues, starting community concert series, organizing tours for colleagues, and promoting thousands of events. For a while, he owned a Mexican restaurant/jazz club, where his award winning Mexican chef Armando called him “jefe”. He has booked hundreds of musicians over the years and represented many colleagues; he has been an agent for a long time, but as a musician he was embarrassed to call himself that. It’s time to admit the truth.
After his first public performance in 1968 of Herb Alpert’s Lonely Bull there was no turning back from the music business. Derrick studied music at the University or Toronto and the Banff Centre. He studied with such renowned trumpet performers as Ronald Romm and Fred Mills of the Canadian Brass, and Charlie Schleuter and Vincent Cicowicz of the Boston and Chicago Symphonies. He has performed every style of music from opera to oompah, from polka to pop, and jazz to … (what genre alliterates with jazz?). He has toured across N. America with many fine musical groups including the Canadian Opera Company and the Foothills Brass. He has played with many notable musicians including Tom Jones, Valdy, Bill Henderson, Birgit Nilsson, Maureen Forester, and he has performed with an even greater number of less notable musicians. Â His touring scheduled has allowed him to stay at almost every cheap motel in Canada. Derrick has also taught music at every level from elementary school through to university. He has performed at thousands of schools.
(In case you’re wondering about the whole Dr. thing before his name above – no it’s not a PhD in music. He obtained a DVM while teaching music at the University of Guelph.)
————————————————————
Alan Ett – agent (should be el jefe)
Alan Ett really should be “el jefe”, but was wise enough to let Derrick be the schmuck. Alan is the team member who really knows about the business of music. Alan was a touring concert artist throughout Europe with his own groups and as a sideman for countless others before moving to Los Angeles and founded the company AECG, a community of companies founded focused on producing music for 1000s of TV shows, commercials and films. The companies evolved into creating content for all media delivered worldwide. The music companies merged with Spirit Music in 2017 and he remains involved in music of every genre and style as well as film and TV production..
He has been on the faculty of many different institutions worldwide including as faculty of The Berklee School of Music and teaching on every grade level from kindergarten through graduate school and remains committed to the evolution of our culture and our children.Â
Mr. Ett earned a BA in psychology at the UNC, Chapel Hill North Carolina; undergraduate studies in music at University of Miami, Florida and the Masters of Music degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Mass.Â
In 2019, Alan and his wife Sheila began the process of immigrating to Canada. They purchased a home on Salt Spring Island in 2022 and in July of 2023 received permanent resident status and relocated permanently to the island.
Mr. Ett has been on the Board of Trustees of the New England Conservatory, Advisory Visiting Board at The Frost School of Music at The University of Miami, a member of BMI, a member of ATAS, and he is a member of NARAS. He is currently on the boards of the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation and the Salt Spring Island Foundation.
check out his imdb page: Â https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262163/
____________________________________________________________________
Wendy Milton – administrator (the real el jefe)
Everyone knows that the real “el jefe” of any business is the administrator. In addition to a long time music teaching career, Wendy Milton has been a performer of many styles including classical, big band jazz, R&B and pop music. She has created community ensembles in several communities and conducted many more.. She grew up in a household of music; both parents were leads in many musicals. Following in the musical theatre tradition, Wendy has been a music director for many musicals including RENT, Cabaret, Spamalot, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakenings and more.
Wendy happens to be married to the self described el jefe, but her position as administrator has nothing to do with nepotism. Organizing musicians is like the proverbial herding of cats, and no one is better at herding cats than an experienced middle school band teacher! Wendy has held many musical administration positions including Phil Nimmons Summer jazz programs. The only harder administrative job Wendy has been responsible for is ensuring el jefe remembers family and friend dinner parties.
(1% off your first booking if you can find Dr Milton Jr in Wendy’s picture.)