Rick Derringer
Biography
Richard Dean Zehringer (August 5, 1947 – May 26, 2025), professionally known as Rick Derringer, was an American musician, producer, and songwriter remembered for the success he gained in the 1960s with his band The McCoys and the bands debut single, "Hang on Sloopy" that topped the US charts in the summer of 1965 (knocking "Yesterday" by The Beatles off the top spot).
After the band split in 1969 , Derringer worked extensively with brothers Edgar and Johnny Winter. In 1971, Derringer featured on three records, "Johnny Winter And", "Johnny Winter And-Live" and "Edgar Winters White Trash". "And" featured the first version of Derringers "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" which was also released as a single, then selected again for "And - Live".
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Eventually Derringer joined Edgars White Trash full-time and produced the gold LP, "Roadwork". Derringers solo album, "All American Boy" was released in 1973 with the now already popular "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo", this time as a hit single.
Derringer was writer/producer of Johnny Winters "Still Alive and Well" album and was player/producer of the Edgar Winter Groups hit album, "They Only Come Out At Night". The latter featured the No. 1, Grammy nominated monster hit, "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride".
In 1976 Derringer created The Derringer Band.
In 1983, he returned to his solo career with the LP, "Good Dirty Fun".
Throughout the 70s and 80s, Derringer appeared on numerous albums with artists including Alice Cooper, Richie Havens, Todd Rundgren and Steely Dan. The list also includes Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, Kiss, Mason Ruffner and Madam X.
In the mid-80s, Derringer discovered Weird Al Yancovic, producing music for Grammy-winning albums and videos. Derringers productions of the Michael Jackson parodies, the No. 1 hit "Eat It", and "Whos Fat", have been Yancovics most successful recordings.
It was also in the 90s that Derringer was selected to be producer/writer/performer of the World Wrestling Federation LPs. Hulk Hogans theme song, "I Am A Real American" was written and performed by Rick in the 80s as a part of these projects.
Derringer was once again sought after by Edgar Winter and in 1990, performed for the LP, "Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer Live in Japan". Then in 1999 Derringer and Edgar Winter were back together again for their collaboration on his "Winter Blues" CD.
Derringer recorded four blues CDs starting in 93 with "Back To the Blues" followed by "Electra Blues", "Blues Deluxe" and his 2000 release "Jackhammer Blues".
At about that same period Derringer released "Tend the Fire".
In 2001, Derringer ventured back into Rock and Roll with Vanilla Fudge superstars Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert produced a recording of intense synergy - "Doin Business As..." (for Derringer, Bogert and Appice) with vocals, writing and instrumentals shared by all three. 2004 promises a reprise for Derringer and Appice, with the release of "D-N-A".
After "D B A", the next project was entitled "Aiming 4 Heaven".
In the Winter of 2002, "Rick Derringer Free Ride" was released.
2006 saw the release of Live At Cheney Hall featuring Derringer with Bruce Waibel (Firehouse and Greg Allman Band) and Tom Curiale.
In 2014, Derringer performed on Peter Framptons Guitar Circus tour with other notable guitarists, including B.B. King, Roger McGuinn (ex-Byrds), Don Felder (ex-Eagles), Leslie West (ex-Mountain), Cheap Tricks Rick Nielsen, Totos Steve Lukather, Los Lobos David Hidalgo, and Pearl Jams Mike McCready.
In 2018, Derringer embarked on a tour with Vanilla Fudge, Mitch Ryder, and Badfinger under the name "HippieFest."
He performed the guitar solo for an anti-bullying campaign version of "Hang on Sloopy" by the Love Love Kids, released in October 2019.
Derringer died on May 26, 2025 in Ormond Beach, Florida at 77 years old. An official cause of death was not initially released. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.
