Feature Photo: Jim Summaria, http://www.jimsummariaphoto.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Rick Derringer, whose influence touched everything from 1960s garage rock to wrestling anthems and arena tours, has died at the age of 77. His death was confirmed by his caretaker Tony Wilson and Guitar Player magazine. He passed away Monday evening in Ormond Beach, Florida. No cause of death has been publicly disclosed, though Derringer had reportedly been in poor health in recent months.
Born Richard Dean Zehringer in Ohio in 1947, Derringer was barely 18 when he scored a No. 1 hit with “Hang On Sloopy” as lead singer of the McCoys. The track, produced by the Strangeloves and released in 1965, became a cultural fixture—particularly in Derringer’s home state of Ohio, where it remains a staple at football games and local events. The McCoys opened for the Rolling Stones on their first U.S. tour, but the band would never match the commercial success of that debut single.
Derringer’s career pivoted quickly in the late ’60s when he began working with Johnny Winter, and later joined Edgar Winter’s band. It was during this time that he produced the Edgar Winter Group’s instrumental powerhouse “Frankenstein,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. He replaced Ronnie Montrose in the band shortly thereafter, holding the position of guitarist and producer through their most visible years.
That same year, Derringer launched his solo career with the now-classic “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo,” a track that became a radio mainstay and was later featured in the Netflix series Stranger Things. His solo band, simply named Derringer, became a fixture on the touring circuit, known for their wild stage antics, including mid-show guitar tosses across the stage.
Derringer’s reach extended far beyond his own recordings. As a session guitarist, he appeared on albums by Steely Dan (Katy Lied, Gaucho), Todd Rundgren, Barbra Streisand, and Kiss. His guitar solos featured prominently on Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Air Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” both composed by Jim Steinman.
In the mid-1980s, Derringer’s guitar skills found a new audience through professional wrestling. He co-wrote and produced the WWF’s The Wrestling Album in 1985, including the now-iconic “Real American” theme song for Hulk Hogan. That anthem, originally recorded for tag team The U.S. Express, went on to be used not only by Hogan but by figures as diverse as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump during political events.
Derringer’s career later included collaborations with Cyndi Lauper—he played on her True Colors album and joined her on tour—as well as Christian music projects alongside his wife, Jenda. He also performed with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band and shared stages with Peter Frampton and Carmine Appice, continuing to tour well into his later years.
Beyond the records and fame, Derringer remained a staple of the classic rock community. He wasn’t just a player—he was a builder of moments. His early hit with “Hang On Sloopy” captured a cultural shift, his work with the Winter brothers defined a sound, and his solo music bridged generations. He remained a consistent presence across decades, genres, and even industries, leaving behind a body of work that stretches from teenage rock dreams to enduring American anthems.
Rick Derringer is survived by his wife Jenda and leaves behind a legacy that spans nearly every corner of American music history—from rock’s golden era to the squared circle of pop culture.
