Reverend Cleavant Derricks (May 13, 1910[1] in Chattanooga, Tennessee – April 14, 1977) was a pastor and choir director at a number of black Baptist churches.
He studied at Cadek Conservatory of Music in Chattanooga, A & I State University and American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville.
[3][4][5] At age 21, Derricks directed a gospel choir of more than 100 voices in Washington, D.C. at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church.
Among his more famous songs are the much-recorded and performed "Just a Little Talk with Jesus[1]," "When God Dipped His Love In My Heart,"[6] "We'll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials," and "When He Blessed My Soul."
They lived in Washington, D.C., then Chattanooga, followed by Knoxville, Tennessee, where- having separated from his first wife after a few years- he married secondly Carrie Louise (1919-2005), daughter of Horace and Lovie Glanton.