Blues Guitar-Playing Phillies Fan Dies At 41

Derek Smock

May 28, 1983 - September 30, 2024

Derek passed away in his sleep in the home he shared with his fiancé on Monday, September 30. Though he was born and raised in Warren, PA, after moving to Philadelphia he became an avid Phillies fan. He enjoyed routinely listening to the programming on WIP. He was a passionate player of blues guitar and recorded many of his songs at Sine Studios in Philadelphia. However, some of his greatest performances were in his own living room with just his electric guitar and his amp improvising to Stevie Ray Vaughan. In 2008, he began a lucrative career as a political operative and in between worked with his Primo hoagies family, who he loved dearly. He always said his greatest accomplishment was not his own career but the success of others he helped bring up. He is proud of you all. He is survived by his fiancé and his family in Warren, PA. His fiancé, Jacqueline Morris, can be reached on Facebook for those looking for ways to honor Derek.