Rick Derringer was an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer whose career stretched across more than six decades. Born Richard Dean Zehringer on 5 August 1947, in Celina, Ohio, USA, he began playing guitar at the age of nine. Inspired by his musical family, the emerging rock & roll scene, and artists such as Buddy Holly, Derringer quickly developed into an accomplished young musician. Derringer first achieved national fame as the lead singer and guitarist of The McCoys. In July 1965, when he was 17 years old, the band released “Hang On Sloopy”, a song originally written by Bert Russell and Wes Farrell. The record became a #1 hit in the United States and turned the teenage Derringer into a national rock star. The song remained one of his most enduring accomplishments and became particularly associated with his home state of Ohio. After The McCoys broke up in 1969, Derringer moved into blues-rock and became closely associated with brothers Johnny and Edgar Winter. He performed and recorded with Johnny Winter and played an important role in The Edgar Winter Group. Derringer produced the group's 1972 album “They Only Come Out At Night”, which featured the hits “Free Ride” and “Frankenstein”. His work during this period established him not only as a guitarist but also as a producer and musical collaborator. Rick Derringer launched his solo career with the 1973 album “All American Boy”. The album featured “Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo”, a song he had previously recorded with Johnny Winter. Derringer's solo version became his signature song, eventually becoming a rock classic. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Derringer developed a reputation as one of rock music's most versatile guitarists and studio musicians. Another chapter of Derringer's career came through his work as a producer. He produced recordings for “Weird Al” Yankovic, helping create several of Yankovic's best-known songs and earning a Grammy Award for his production work. Rick Derringer (as Derringer) recorded the song “Real American” for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) (now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)) soundtrack “The Wrestling Album” in 1985. The song was first used as the entrance theme for the tag team U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham). After Rotunda and Windham left the WWF in late 1985, Hulk Hogan adopted the song, and it became tied to his "Hulkamania" persona. In his later years, Derringer continued recording, performing, and exploring blues and rock music. His influence extended well beyond his own records: he was a musician who could move from teenage pop success to blues-rock, hard rock, and studio production, without being confined to one musical identity.

In Memoriam

1947 August 5 USA - 2025 May 26 USA (77)