 Following his graduation from Mission Viejo High School and Silverado continuation school on February 9, 1976, DeRenzo attends Saddleback College to study jazz music in the Thursday night Big Band under the direction of Bill Kirk.Fall of 1978, DeRenzo goes with Dan Molinari to hear Robben Ford at Dante's, a jazz club on Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood and meets Dan's hometown friend Russell Ferrante.January 1979, DeRenzo attends the Winter NAMM show and catches Jaco Pastorius and Peter Erskine Bass & Drum concert at the Acoustic Amplifier booth.