Rick Derringer Dies

Rick Derringer, born Richard Dean Zehringer on August 5, 1947, in Fort Recovery, Ohio, was an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist, and producer whose career spanned over five decades. Raised in a musical family, he developed an early interest in music and learned to play guitar by the age of nine.

Along with his brother Randy, he formed the band The McCoys while still in high school. Derringer attended Union City High School in Indiana, and though he briefly studied at the University of Dayton, he left to pursue music full-time following the success of The McCoys’ breakout hit. Derringer rose to fame in 1965 when The McCoys’ single “Hang On Sloopy” topped the Billboard Hot 100.

The song, produced by the famed team of Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer, catapulted the teenage Derringer into the national spotlight. After The McCoys disbanded in the late 1960s, Derringer joined Johnny Winter’s band and later Edgar Winter’s White Trash, contributing to the latter’s hit “Frankenstein” and producing their album They Only Come Out at Night.

This period marked Derringer’s evolution from teen pop star to serious rock guitarist and producer. In 1973, he launched his solo career with the album All American Boy, which featured the enduring anthem “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.” The track became one of his signature songs and a staple of classic rock radio.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Derringer worked extensively as a session guitarist and producer, collaborating with artists such as Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, and Barbra Streisand. He also formed the Derringer band and released several albums, though they met with moderate commercial success. In the 1980s, Derringer found a niche in the professional wrestling world by recording

entrance themes for the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), including “Real American,” famously used by Hulk Hogan. These projects demonstrated his adaptability and continued relevance across multiple entertainment genres.

In his personal life, Derringer married Jenda Hall, a musician and former member of the female rock band The Harlowes. The couple had children together, including a son who also pursued music. In later years, Derringer became a born-again Christian, which significantly influenced his artistic direction. He released several Christian-themed albums,

reinterpreting earlier works and creating new spiritual material. Despite his Christian beliefs, Derringer occasionally courted controversy, including a widely publicized 2017 incident in which he was caught bringing a loaded gun aboard a commercial flight. He pleaded guilty and was fined, claiming he had routinely carried the weapon on flights without issue in the past.

Over the course of his career, Derringer received acclaim not only for his musicianship but also for his work behind the scenes. He was a Grammy Award winner for his production efforts and earned industry respect as a versatile and innovative force in rock music. His ability to shift between performing, producing,

and songwriting helped sustain a long and varied career, admired by fans and peers alike. Rick Derringer died on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the age of 77. News of his passing prompted tributes from across the music world, with many praising his contributions to rock, blues, and pop culture.