DERANI SANDERS
(NEE HAYNES)

Her Website

My love for country music began from a young age as my mum use to play a lot of old records and tapes at home. 

I began singing at the age of 13 at the Balaklava Country Music Festival in March 1991 where i sang only one song with Roger Redpaths band  'Southern Cross' and it sounded absolutely terrible.  From then I didn't sing  very much at all until 1992 / 1993  when we formed a family band 'Misty Mountain'  which consisted of myself on vocals and rhythm guitar, sister Tarita on tamborine and vocals and brother Trent also vocals. Over the years Tarita learnt to play Bass guitar and Trent the drums.

We performed as a group doing plenty of walk ups at country music clubs and festivals including the Adelaide Country Music Club Junior showcase in 1993, Balaklava Country music Festival and the Dublin Country music Festival.  In 1994 I won my very first trophy at the Black Stump Show case and saw us play all over South Australia including Ardrossan Country Music By the Sea, Warooka, Ardyakka Park, Owen, Wallaroo, Glendambo, Broken Hill, Barmera, Bute, Port Pirie, Mount Gambier, Yongala, Eurelia and so many more.

Over the years I have been backed by and supported by some fantastic musicians and supporters like Merv Westlake, Merv Rayson,  Dean Ettridge - Southern Skies, Key Country, Detour, Wild Card, The Miller Band and so many many more.

A few highlights so far are the 1997 Kapunda Country Music for Cancer Research Festival where I had the privilege to perform with Johnny Mac and at Barmera in 1996 where a few of us were busking on the street and Johnny Mac came up and started singing and playing guitar with us.  I was also very lucky to become the very first recipient of the Len Wakefield Memorial Fund.

I have enjoyed performing over the years all across South Australia and although I have not performed  much over the last few years (due to having a family)  I look forward to perhaps entertaining you all again very soon.

Awards

1994 - BLACK STUMP SHOWCASE  - PARINGA     1st Under 18 Female Vocal

1995 - GAWLER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL   3rd Senior Gospel

1995 - GAWLER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL   2nd Female Vocal

1996 - LEN WAKEFIELD MEMORIAL FUND - 1st Recipient

1996 - GAWLER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL   3rd DUET

1996 - GAWLER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL  3rd Female Vocal

1996 - RIVERLAND COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL  STAR STEP TALENT QUEST - BARMERA -2nd Female Vocal

1997 - RIVERLAND COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL - BARMERA  1st  Duet

1998 - SALT LAKE CITY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL - LOCHIEL  1st BAND - 'MISTY MOUNTAIN'

1998 - SALT LAKE CITY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL - LOCHIEL  1st Senior

1998 - SALT LAKE CITY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL - LOCHIEL - Overall Winner - 'MISTY MOUNTAIN'

1998 - PORT AUGUSTA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL  1st Female Vocal

1998/1999 - Finalist Champion Of Champs

2009 - RIVERLAND COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL & AWARDS - 3rd Band Section- 'ALL PLOUGHED UP' 

For further details please contact Derani at Email or on mobile: 0408 738 548

Derani in 1996