Great tone, and VH swing...just gifted as hell.
One of the first videos i remember of JD was posted on his Dad's YT account, if not mistaken...seems like it was Pierre (sp), not Jacob Deraps. He was playing some really "old-school" gear...for a 14 yo kid. I messaged the dad, speculating of course that dad was on old "rocker" from the 80's and his kid had picked it up and run with it. He responded with basically yes...he did the 80's RnR thing, and had brought Jacob up on that music...of course Jacob, according to pop, is WAY better than dad ever was.
I've seen some of his live videos, and the stand-in stuff he did with Dweezil. I've seen his covers linked on VHND, on the Facebook. All of it is really, really good...the kid is an incredible talent.
It'll be interesting to see where he takes his talent, and music, from here. As much as i love all the stuff he covers, i just don't know if the world wants a newer version of that music any longer. But maybe he's that ONE guy that turns rock-n-roll on its ear.
I don't know him or his parents personally, and all i know is my perception of what i see in a 3-4 minute video on YT...but based on that I'd give major cudos to his parents (mom and /or dad). They certainly appear to have nurtured his talent but not to a point throwing him to the world. He seems like a pretty normal kid...now about 20 (i guess). He's got some pretty heavy hitters as endorsers, he's making some contacts and meeting some people that def have connections in the business, he's matured a bit (i would imagine)...it'll be interesting.
Back in the day...in the 80's...a kid like that most likely would have a band, do some local clubs and such...maybe a small regional touring gig, then pack their stuff and head for the coast if they wanted to be a "rock star"?