Basses

Rick Derringer, guitarist and songwriting legend behind Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo, dies aged 77

May 28, 2025

Rick Derringer, the guitarist and songwriting legend behind hits like Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo and Real American, has died at the age of 77.
The news was confirmed by Derringer’s caretaker Tony Wilson in a Facebook post: “Ormond Beach, FL – Renowned guitarist and entertainer Rick Derringer passed on at 8:09pm on May 26, surrounded by his loving wife’ Singer-songwriter and band of 28 years Jenda Derringer, his caretaker and close friend Tony Wilson.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** LEGENDARY MUSICIAN/ ENTERTAINERRICK DERRINGER Received His Wings And Passed On This…
Posted by Tony Wilson on Tuesday, May 27, 2025

No cause of death has been announced, though Variety reports that the musician had been ill in recent months.
Born Richard Dean Zehringer, Derringer shot to fame as a teenager with The McCoys. Their debut single, Hang On Sloopy, topped the charts in 1965 – briefly knocking The Beatles’ Yesterday out of the number one spot – and made the 17-year-old guitarist an overnight star.
That early success marked the beginning of a prolific career that spanned over six decades and crossed into genres including hard rock, blues, pop, and heavy metal.
After the McCoys disbanded, Derringer quickly earned his stripes as a go-to guitarist for blues icons Edgar and Johnny Winter, appearing on landmark records like Johnny Winter And (1970) and the Edgar Winter Group’s They Only Come Out at Night (1972), which featured the iconic instrumental Frankenstein.
It was with Johnny Winter that Derringer first recorded Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo, but the track found new life and chart success when Derringer re-recorded it for his solo debut All American Boy in 1973. The track became his signature hit, and would go on to become an FM radio staple and a touchstone for generations of guitarists.
In addition to his work as a performer, Derringer also built a formidable reputation as a producer. He worked extensively with ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, producing the musician’s first six albums, including the Grammy-winning Michael Jackson spoof, Eat It. He also recorded with Alice Cooper, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, and Barbra Streisand, among others over the years. In 1985, Derringer produced the World Wrestling Federation’s The Wrestling Album, co-writing several tracks – including what would become Hulk Hogan’s iconic entrance theme song, Real American.
He remained active well into his later years, continuing to record and tour, including three global runs in the 2010s with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.
Tributes from around the world have poured in following news of Derringer’s passing.
“I’m very sad to say that my friend, rock guitar legend Rick Derringer, has passed,” ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic wrote on Instagram. “Rick produced my first six albums and played guitar on my earliest recordings, including the solo on Eat It. He had an enormous impact on my life, and will be missed greatly.”

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Beatles star Ringo Starr also said: “God bless Rick Derringer. It was great playing with him in the All Starrs. I send peace and love to his family.”

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