Derek Whitacre is an American music composer and producer based in Los Angeles.  Most notably, he has written music for the television shows NCIS (CBS, seasons 8-15), and Queen of the South (USA, seasons 1-3), and in 2018 released the documentary We Live Machinery.

 

He is also a contributing writer and producer for music in the 2018 released films Josie (starring Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner), and the rock ‘n’ roll murder mystery Cover Versions.

 

In 2016, he co-wrote the theme song for the Walter Hill (48 Hrs, The Warriors) directed revenge film The Assignment, starring Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver.

 

Also in 2016, Whitacre’s passions for vintage Porsches and classic sports cars spilled over into his professional life in the form of the documentary We Live Machinery.  The film covers the tumultuous running of the Targa Baja California classic car rally in Baja California, Mexico.  Derek produced, directed, filmed, edited and starred in the documentary, as well as composed all of the music.  In 2017, the film was picked up for distribution by Adam Carolla’s Chassy Media.

 

Derek Whitacre has produced 3 other films under the moniker The Moscow Coup Attempt.  The films were accompaniment visuals for albums of the music project of the same name.

 

 

Trivia:

He has an uncredited voice-over as the giant “Wun Wun” in Game of Thrones, season 6, episode 7.

 

Derek was an assistant recording engineer on the final Ben Folds Five album, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.