Derek Sherinian was born August 25, 1966, in Laguna Beach, California. He started taking piano lessons at age five. When he was a junior in high school, he received a scholarship to study at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. After three semesters there, he moved to Los Angeles. In 1989, he was asked to be a touring keyboardist for Alice Cooper, as well as for KISS in 1992.

In 1994, Derek was asked to replace Kevin Moore in the band Dream Theater for the Awake tour on a temporary basis, but the following year the band asked him to play permanently. During his tenure with the band he recorded A Change of Seasons and Falling Into Infinity.

Derek left Dream Theater in early 1999 due to creative differences but has generally remained on friendly terms with the band, often collaborating with members of the band in side projects. These projects include Platypus (along with John Myung), Jughead (with Kings X guitarist Ty Tabor), and Planet X. Planet X came about after Derek’s first solo effort by the same name led to formation of the group. The group has released four albums. Derek has also released five solo albums, the most recent being 2006’s Blood of the Snake, which features John Petrucci on guitar on one song.

Derek continues his extensive collaboration, playing with Billy Idol, Allan Holdsworth, and Zakk Wylde among many others. He also owns Beechwood Manor Studios in Burbank, California.