Rick Derringer Dead at 77

Ultimate Classic Rock ^ | 5/27/25 | Bryan Rolli

[chuck allen]

Rick Derringer, the guitarist, songwriter and producer who wrote or contributed to a body of hits spanning decades, died on Monday at the age of 77.

Derringer's caretaker, Tony Wilson, shared the news on Facebook, and Guitar Player later reported it. The guitarist's wife, Jenda Derringer, told TMZ he died "peacefully" in his sleep after being taken off life support following a medical episode.

Born Richard Dean Zehringer on Aug. 5, 1947, in Celina, Ohio, and raised in the nearby Fort Recovery, Derringer began his burgeoning music career in earnest when he received his first guitar on his ninth birthday. ("I was a natural," he told Guitar Player in 2024.) He and his brother Randy Zehringer (later known as Randy Z) formed a band called the McCoys in their teens, with Derringer handling guitar and lead vocals.

The McCoys scored a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 with "Hang on Sloopy," which became the official rock song of Ohio. The band scored one more Top 10 hit with a cover of the R&B staple "Fever," and a cover of Ritchie Valens' "Come On, Let's Go" reached the Top 40.

In 1970, the McCoys backed Texas blues-rocker Johnny Winter on his album Johnny Winter And, which also served as the group's name. Derringer soon began working with Winter's brother, Edgar Winter, contributing to the Edgar Winter Group's multiplatinum 1972 debut album, They Only Come Out at Night.

[EvilCapitalist]

In before the Keith Richards reference.

[scott7278]

He was a real American. Fought for the rights of every man.

[Libloather]

[ifinnegan]

This guy did Hang On Sloopy?

I never knew that.

[VTenigma]

The Rick Derringer with Dana Carvey skit on SNL was one of the best of the early SNL years.

RIP

[DoodleBob]

Derringer…became a born-again Christian near the end of the decade and released several Christian music albums with his family in the 2000s.

Rest in Peace, Rick.

[silent_jonny]

Somewhere, Sloopy Girl is doing a more somber version of the Sloopy dance,

[xp38]

Derringer's career slowed in the '90s. He became a born-again Christian near the end of the decade and released several Christian music albums with his family in the 2000s.

Once again God surprises. RIP

[newfreep]

Growing up in Dayton, OH, I saw the McCoys at a teen club in a basement level of a shopping center.

They were the opening act on a 12” high stage and then stayed on stage to be the backing band for Simon & Garfunkle’s “Homeward Bound” tour.

He played on Steely Dan tracks - “Show Biz Kids”, “Chain Lightening” and Donald Fagen’s “Nightfly” album among others.

[silent_jonny]

He became a born-again Christian near the end of the decade and released several Christian music albums with his family in the 2000s.

Didn't know that.

[bigbob]

Too young, but he had a good run and re-invented himself successfully. SXM has been playing a lot of McCoys tracks today and they were as good a garage band as any, with a couple big hits and lots of great covers. RIP Rick.

[CatOwner]

Perhaps most significantly, Derringer produced the first six albums by platinum-selling parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. Their partnership netted Derringer two Grammys for the Michael Jackson parodies "Eat It" and "Fat." The former featured a scorching guitar solo from Derringer to approximate Eddie Van Halen's contribution to the original ...

Did not know this. Seems to be a common response so far to Derringer's career in the music industry. RIP, Rick.

[dznutz]

Another legend gone.

Derringer with Edgar Winter on Midnight Special 1973

Midnight Special

[dznutz]

Don’t know why link won’t work, will have to cut and paste.

https://youtu.be/T_XiMab-FPo?si=qimm2qeL8ZnMZ14x

[LouAvul]

Yeah, and the vid with the blonde dancing? That was his wife.

[LouAvul]

That was his wife.

[LouAvul]

Oops. Sorry. Wrong girl.

[LouAvul]

Oops. Sorry. Wrong girl.

[dadfly]

dang. good guy. great guitarist of my youth. know he’s with the Lord.