Rick Derringer, the American guitarist and singer best known for his work with the McCoys and collaborations with major music stars, has died at the age of 77.
His longtime friend Tony Wilson announced the news in a Facebook post. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Derringer, born Richard Zehringer in Ohio, had a career that spanned over six decades. Though not a household name, he played an important role in American pop and rock music, often appearing alongside some of its biggest names.
He formed the McCoys after moving with his family to Union City, Indiana. In 1965, the band released their version of the R&B song My Girl Sloopy, with 17-year-old Derringer as the lead singer. Retitled Hang on Sloopy, the song reached No. 1 on the US charts. It later became Ohio’s official state rock song in 1985, helped by its popularity at Ohio State University football games.
The McCoys followed up with another hit, a cover of Fever, which reached the US Top 10. Their 1966 single Come On, Let’s Go peaked at No. 22, and the band went on to release five albums.
The McCoys later teamed up with blues-rock guitarist Johnny Winter to form Johnny Winter And. That group recorded the first version of Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo. Derringer later re-recorded the track for his 1973 solo debut album All American Boy. The single, known for its hard-rock style and swagger, reached No. 23 in the US. It gained renewed popularity after being featured in the film Dazed and Confused and the Netflix series Stranger Things.
Also in 1973, Derringer returned to the top of the US charts by producing and playing guitar for the Edgar Winter Group. He played on their No. 1 instrumental hit Frankenstein and contributed to Free Ride, which reached No. 14.
Derringer released 14 solo studio albums over his career. However, he was best known for his work as a guitarist and producer for other artists. He played on two tracks from Alice Cooper’s 1971 album Killer, and began a long collaboration with Todd Rundgren.
He also played guitar on several Steely Dan albums, including Countdown to Ecstasy, Katy Lied, and Gaucho. Working with producer Jim Steinman, Derringer contributed to two of the biggest power ballads of the 1980s: Air Supply’s Making Love Out of Nothing at All and Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart.
He collaborated with Meat Loaf on the album Blind Before I Stop and the TV show Way Off Broadway. Derringer also played lead guitar on Left in the Dark, the lead single from Barbra Streisand’s 1984 album Emotion, also written by Steinman.
In the 1980s, Derringer worked with “Weird Al” Yankovic, including on the Grammy-winning Michael Jackson parody Eat It. He also became involved in professional wrestling music, writing Hulk Hogan’s theme song Real American and producing music for the World Wrestling Federation.
Derringer continued to work with major artists into the 1990s. He joined Cyndi Lauper’s band for her albums True Colors and A Night to Remember, and toured with her.
Later in life, he toured three times with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. He also made music with his wife Jenda and their children, Lory and Marn. His most recent album, Rock the Yacht, was released in 2023 and was another collaboration with Jenda.
Derringer remained active in music until his death, leaving behind a legacy as a versatile and influential figure in American rock.
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