Rick Derringer, the singer of the 1965 No. 1 hit, “Hang on Sloopy,” and writer of “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo,” passed away at the age of 77 in Ormond Beach, Florida. The news of the musician’s death was shared by his caretaker, Tony Wilson, who said Derringer died Monday evening (May 26), though no cause of death was disclosed. Throughout his six-decade career, Derringer achieved success as a guitarist, singer, and producer, working with varied artists like Steely Dan, Todd Rundgren, Alice Cooper, Kiss, and Barbra Streisand. Derringer played guitar in the Edgar Winter Group, and produced their massive 1972 hit, “Frankenstein,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in May of 1973.
His influential music career spanned from teen stardom in the ‘60s to collaborating with artists like Cyndi Lauper in the ‘80s, which led to him producing a series of wrestling theme songs, including Hulk Hogan’s iconic anthem, “Real American.” He also played the guitar solos on Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Air Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at All.” In later years, Derringer toured with Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band as well as Peter Frampton.
Born Richard Dean Zehringer in Ohio in 1947, he rose to fame with his teenage band, the McCoys. Derringer went on to achieve critical acclaim as both a solo artist and band member, creating a series of indelible hits that are still influencing pop culture today, with “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo” famously used in the fourth season of Stranger Things, which introduced his music to a new generation of fans. (Variety)
