Rick Derringer Dies at 77: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Life Remembered

The late musician may not always have been at the center of the spotlight, but his music became a staple in the American music scene for several decades. Rick Derringer, the former guitarist and frontman of The McCoys, the band that gave the world “Hang on Sloopy,” and the author of the electric solo piece “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” died at the age of 77. The information was given by his good friend Tony Wilson on Facebook, although he did not reveal the cause of the death.

Derringer’s journey has extended over six decades, and the genres of music he has been involved in during his career are indeed many and varied – rock, blues, pop, and even wrestling themes. He might have been operating more in the background being not so famous, but he was certainly one of the people behind the scenes who made rock great.

Life as a Rock Prodigy in the Midwest

Originally known as Richard Zehringer, he came from Ohio and his music career was started when he went to Union City, Indiana, a small town. In the beginning, he and his brother Randy were trying to compose a garage rock band and not long after they got signed the band name The McCoys. They created a rhythm-and-blues song “My Girl Sloopy” that has never been forgotten and in 1965 they recorded their version of it. As it was a local song, with Rick’s participation in the leads and guitar, the song “Hang on Sloopy” made it to the top spot on the Billboard charts.

The song was very catchy. It quickly turned into another very popular version of it, especially in Ohio, where it was performed any time the Ohio State University marching band played and eventually, the song was announced as the state’s official rock song in 1985.

As a Band, as a Brother, as a Turning Point

After finding fame with their first song, The McCoys combined their forces with Johnny Winter, the blues guitar genius to start the blues-rock band called Johnny Winter And. It was at this point that Derringer made his very first “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” tune, which later became one of his biggest hits. He would later re-record the song for his 1973 solo album All American Boy which became a hit single, peaking at No. 23. The rough riff and the energetic factor of the song guaranteed the song’s pop culture status, which found its way into films such as Dazed and Confused and Stranger Things TV show.

In the same year, Derringer gained a new hit behind the scenes. He became a producer and served as a guitarist for the Edgar Winter Group. His input into their instrumental “Frankenstein” pushed the song to the first place on the charts. Besides, he was one of the instrumentalists for their “Free Ride” song, revealing his versatility at the same time as a technical artist and a creator.

Most celebrities’ guitarist

Derringer not only released 14 studio albums but also he was one of the most in-demand studio guitarists. A very long list is there of the artists he helped play, from Alice Cooper’s Killer, to Todd Rundgren, and numerous Steely Dan albums, including Countdown to Ecstasy, Katy Lied, and Gaucho. Here’s a massive band in the 70s that put the highlights of the songs on the charts. The decade of the 80s found some of the artists evolving into the power ballads, and the songs he did were some of these so popular at that time.

With Jim Steinman, the great composer, in the 1980s, his guitar work made the sound of the biggest power ballads. Derringer’s involvement in Air Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” and Bonnie Tyler’s unforgettable “Total Eclipse of the Heart” were the such songs he played the role in. His guitar was also involved in Barbra Streisand’s 1984 album Emotion, showcasing its drama on the track “Left in the Dark,” in particular.

Desperado’s capability and flexibility had always made him the first port of call as a collaborator. He did stuff with Meat Loaf, and recorded both of Cyndi Lauper’s albums True Colors and A Night to Remember, moreover, he went on tour with her. And for the millions that grew up watching 1980s wrestling, Derringer was the one who delivered the unforgettable anthem “Real American,” Hulk Hogan’s theme song – a fact that cemented his authority in yet another sphere of pop culture.

Rocking the world till the very end

He was a person who never could stop, so Derringer was still active until his last days. He performed around the world, including playing with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, and produced family albums with his wife Jenda and their children, Lory and Marn. Illness could not stop him from making music and giving concerts, the latest being the release of Rock the Yacht in 2023.

While being in the mainstream definitely wasn’t the case for him, Derringer’s guitar and singing were instrumental in the development of the sound of American rock and pop. His ability to change, his dedication, and his unique sound have been an inspiration to many artists, while his solo works have earned him his rightful place in history.

Aman and an Era Engraved in Music

The death of Rick Derringer, indeed, means the end of an era – a fact that underlines that the history of music is made up not only by the big stars who were at the forefront but also by the professional and gifted people who were in the background. Despite the man’s ordinary personality, his music was played across stadiums, conducted through various generations and also at music’s most unforgettable moments

As his fans and co-musicians will be walking down memory lane of his work, Rick Derringer’s departure from the stage, however, will not be able to diminish his music spirits.