Raised in Gonzales, Louisiana, Douget was adopted into a mixed race family. His Cajun father exposed him to all things Acadian from food to music. In a region known for mixing African, Latin, Native American, and European traditions and cultures, Douget celebrates his part in this great community of mixed cultures that has always been a hot bed for jazz musicians.
At age 10, Derek started playing the saxophone. In high school, Douget first heard the recordings of Ornette Coleman, Charlie Parker and Count Basie. These recordings resonated so strongly within him that Derek gave up classical saxophone for a career in jazz.
Douget studied at The University of New Orleans under Ed Petersen and was mentored by Ellis Marsalis and Harold Battiste. By the time he graduated in 1997, Douget had performed with many notable musicians on the New Orleans scene, toured nationally with Nicholas Payton, recorded the movie soundtrack "Soul of the Game" with Terence Blanchard, and was a member of the Ellis Marsalis Quartet.
He then concentrated on earning a Master's degree, which he completed in 2005. After the flooding of New Orleans, Douget moved to Brooklyn, NY, and continued to record and tour internationally with the likes of The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Maurice Brown and Ellis Marsalis.
At the close of 2009, the saxophonist and his wife moved back to New Orleans. He performed on the 2010 Grammy-winning album "Book One" with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.
