Rick Derringer -

Rick Derringer (August 5, 1947 — May 26, 2025) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer famed for his 1973 evergreen “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.” He originated in Sixties pop-rockers The McCoys of “Hang On Sloopy” fame. After stints with Johnny and Edgar Winter, he launched a solo career interspersed with albums by Derringer, a hard-rock band with ex-Dust/Stories bassist Kenny Aaronson and future Axis/Dio drummer Vinny Appice.

Background

Richard Dean Zehringer was born on August 5, 1947, in Celina, Ohio, and spent his early childhood in Fort Recovery. His uncle Jim Thornburg introduced him to guitar around age eight, and his parents bought him an electric guitar the following year. The family later moved across the state line to Union City, Indiana.

In 1962, Zehringer and his drummer brother Randy formed Rick & The Raiders with bassist Dennis Kelly. In 1965, they encountered The Strangeloves, a New York studio group then in the charts with “I Want Candy.” The Strangeloves used Rick’s vocals on the pre-recorded backing track for “Hang On Sloopy,” a song by Wes Farrell and “Twist and Shout” co-writer Bert Berns, recorded already as “My Girl Sloopy” by The Vibrations and The Yardbirds. They sent The Raiders out to promote the song under a new name, The McCoys, to avoid confusion with Paul Revere & The Raiders.

Bang issued “Hang On Sloopy” in August 1965 (b/w “I Can’t Explain It”). The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the UK chart. “Fever” followed in November (b/w “Sorrow”) along with the 1965/66 albums Hang On Sloopy and You Make Me Feel So Good.

Mercury signed the group for the 1968/69 albums Infinite McCoys and Human Ball, which marked their embrace of psychedelia and jazz-rock. Zehringer adopted the surname Derringer during this period because radio announcers and record buyers found it easier to pronounce.

Derringer, Randy Zehringer and bassist Randy Jo Hobbs joined guitarist Johnny Winter during 1970 as Johnny Winter And. Derringer wrote “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” for the 1970 studio album Johnny Winter And and appeared on the 1971 concert release Live Johnny Winter And. Winter also introduced him to slide guitar.

Edgar Winter then used Derringer across Edgar Winter’s White Trash and the 1972 live album Roadwork. Derringer produced their 1972 release They Only Come Out at Night, which contains the instrumental guitar/Moog rocker “Frankenstein” and the Dan Hartman-penned anthem “Free Ride.” He also backed Todd Rundgren on “Dust In the Wind,” a ballad on the ex-Nazz musician’s 1972 double-album Something / Anything?

His work with the Winter brothers led into a solo contract with the CBS-distributed Blue Sky label.

All American Boy

Rick Derringer released his debut solo album, All American Boy, in October 1973 on Blue Sky.

The album features Captain Beyond drummer Bobby Caldwell with keyboards by Edgar Winter. Dobro player David Bromberg joins “Cheap Tequila,” while harmonica player Toots Thielemans appears on “It’s Raining.” Two tracks (“Teenage Queen,” “Uncomplicated”) feature alternate backup by bassist Kenny Passarelli, drummer Joe Vitale, and guitarist Joe Walsh. Derringer wrote every selection apart from “Hold,” a collaboration with Patti Smith.

“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” stomps through a scratchy boogie riff before Derringer tears into a heated guitar break. “Joy Ride” races from acoustic picking into a compact high-gear instrumental. “Uncomplicated” pounds a blunt repeated figure with slide accents. “Teenage Love Affair” careens through rapid changes and a distorted talk-box solo. “Time Warp” surges through a tightly wound instrumental with sharp turns and sustained momentum. “Jump, Jump, Jump” drifts across spacious blues phrasing with falsetto lines opening into a long solo passage.

A1. “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” (3:43)
A2. “Joy Ride” (1:50)
A3. “Teenage Queen” (3:31)
A4. “Cheap Tequila” (2:44)
A5. “Uncomplicated” (3:40)
A6. “Hold” (3:12)

B1. “The Airport Giveth (The Airport Taketh Away)” (2:49)
B2. “Teenage Love Affair” (3:20)
B3. “It’s Raining” (2:05)
B4. “Time Warp” (2:53)
B5. “Slide On Over Slinky” (4:21)
B6. “Jump, Jump, Jump” (6:00)

Sessions occurred during 1973 at Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colorado, and The Hit Factory in New York, where Rick Derringer co-produced All American Boy with Bill Szymczyk. Szymczyk engineered with Allan Blazek during a 1973/74 sequence that included albums by the J. Geils Band (Ladies Invited), Michael Stanley (Friends and Legends), and Wishbone Ash (There’s the Rub). Blazek continued the association through subsequent sessions for the Eagles (One of These Nights).

CBS art director John Berg designed the cover around a photograph by fashion photographer Hiro. The portrait shows Derringer with the candy-apple-red Stratocaster associated with the album sessions.

Blue Sky issued “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” in December 1973 (b/w “Time Warp”). The single reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1974. All American Boy reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200.

Blue Sky prepared discrete quadraphonic LP and eight-track editions during 1974. Hear No Evil collected the album in the 2017 box Joy Ride: Solo Albums 1973–1980.

1973–75 Side Credits

Derringer returned to Johnny Winter for the 1973 album Still Alive and Well. He played guitar on the title song and “Cheap Tequila,” added slide guitar to “Silver Train,” and used pedal steel on “Ain’t Nothing to Me.”

Steely Dan used his slide guitar on “Show Biz Kids” from the 1973 album Countdown to Ecstasy. Thomas Jefferson Kaye employed him on the 1973 album Thomas Jefferson Kaye and the 1974 follow-up First Grade.

Derringer produced the 1974 Edgar Winter Group album Shock Treatment and played lead guitar across the sessions. He also returned to Steely Dan for the guitar solo on “Chain Lightning” from the 1975 release Katy Lied.

Spring Fever

Rick Derringer released his second solo album, Spring Fever, in March 1975 on Blue Sky.

The album retains Edgar Winter across keyboards, marimba and reeds, with Air/Utopia bassist John Siegler and drummer John Siomos in the main rhythm section. Johnny Winter adds guitar, while Chick Corea plays synthesizer on “He Needs Some Answers.” Derringer revisits the McCoys single “Hang On Sloopy” and covers Rufus Thomas (“Walkin’ the Dog”).

“Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” rolls from picked guitar into a broad, slower chorus. “Still Alive and Well” struts on a blunt riff before a treated solo and saxophone break. “Rock” expands from synth wash into a heated jam with sharp sectional turns. “Hang On Sloopy” bounces on an offbeat dance pattern and tuned-percussion accents. “Walkin’ the Dog” prowls beneath a strained falsetto and menacing riffing.

A1. “Gimme More” (3:38)
A2. “Tomorrow” (3:36)
A3. “Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” (4:37)
A4. “Still Alive and Well” (3:17)
A5. “Rock” (4:46)

B1. “Hang On Sloopy” (3:08)
B2. “Roll with Me” (3:35)
B3. “Walkin’ the Dog” (4:12)
B4. “He Needs Some Answers” (3:22)
B5. “Skyscraper Blues” (3:53)

Sessions occurred at Caribou Ranch and the Record Plant in New York, where Derringer produced Spring Fever. Szymczyk and Blazek returned to the engineering team, joined by Record Plant soundman Shelly Yakus; David Thoener and Kevin Herron served as assistant engineers.

Berg directed the packaging, with album design by Teresa Alfieri and hand lettering by Andy Engel. Francesco Scavullo, then a principal fashion photographer for Cosmopolitan, shot the front-cover portrait; Fred Lombardi photographed the back cover, while Don Hunstein and Bruce Weber supplied the inner images.

Blue Sky issued “Hang On Sloopy” in March 1975 (b/w “Skyscraper Blues”). “Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” followed in May 1975 (b/w “Gimme More”). Spring Fever reached No. 141 on the Billboard 200.

1975–76 Side Credits

Derringer played and produced The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer, released during 1975. Blue Sky issued “People Music” from the album in November 1975 and followed with “Diamond Eyes” during January 1976.

Johnny and Edgar Winter combined their touring groups for the 1976 live album Together. Derringer also played pedal steel on “Let Me Just Follow Behind” from the 1976 Bette Midler album Songs for the New Depression and joined Dan Hartman on the 1976 release Images.

Derringer formed a permanent band under his adopted surname with guitarist-singer Danny Johnson, bassist-singer Kenny Aaronson and drummer Vinny Appice.

Derringer

Derringer released its self-titled debut album in April 1976 on Blue Sky.

The album establishes the quartet of Derringer, Johnson, Aaronson and Appice. Cynthia Weil collaborated with Derringer on “Let Me In,” “You Can Have Me,” “Comes a Woman” and “Goodbye Again.” Johnson wrote “Sailor,” while Larry Sloman co-wrote “Envy.” Edgar Winter plays piano on “Goodbye Again.”

“Let Me In” barrels through a blunt riff and compact refrain. “You Can Have Me” stomps along a hard-edged figure before bass and guitar trade momentum through a longer solo passage. “Envy” coils around syncopated accents beneath a lean repeated phrase. “Comes a Woman” simmers through slow, bent-note phrasing and opens into a broad solo passage. “Beyond the Universe” erupts from a driving riff and pivots through marked changes before an extended jam.

A1. “Let Me In” (3:31)
A2. “You Can Have Me” (4:23)
A3. “Loosen Up Your Grip” (6:39)
A4. “Envy” (4:40)

B1. “Comes a Woman” (5:29)
B2. “Sailor” (4:25)
B3. “Beyond the Universe” (5:50)
B4. “Goodbye Again” (4:08)

Derringer recorded the self-titled album at The Hit Factory in New York, where Rick Derringer produced the sessions with engineer Harry Maslin and assistant Ted Spencer. Maslin entered the project after engineering and production work on the 1975/76 David Bowie albums Young Americans and Station to Station.

Scher designed the silver-toned sleeve with structural work by Nick Fasciano and a metallic wordmark by Gerard Huerta. Don Hunstein photographed the logo treatment, while Bob Gruen supplied the sleeve portrait and Norman Seeff contributed additional photography.

Live in Cleveland

Blue Sky circulated Live in Cleveland during late 1976 as a broadcast-only promotional album.

The album captures the original quartet at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland. Live draws from Derringer and the earlier solo albums before a cover of David Bowie (“Rebel Rebel”).

A1. “Let Me In” (3:34)
A2. “Teenage Love Affair” (3:25)
A3. “Sailor” (5:29)
A4. “Beyond the Universe” (6:59)

B1. “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” (12:53)
B2. “Roll with Me” (4:58)
B3. “Rebel Rebel” (4:18)

Blue Sky drew the promotional Live in Cleveland from an October 11, 1976, WMMS broadcast recorded at the Agora Ballroom for the Cleveland venue’s tenth anniversary.

Sweet Evil

Derringer released its second studio album, Sweet Evil, in January 1977 on Blue Sky.

Rick retained the Derringer lineup with Johnson, Aaronson, and Appice. Johnson wrote “One Eyed Jack” and “Drivin’ Sideways.” Larry Sloman collaborated with Derringer on “Sittin’ by the Pool,” while Cynthia Weil contributed to “I Didn’t Ask to Be Born.”

“Sittin’ by the Pool” swaggers through an opening riff exchange over a syncopated strut. “One Eyed Jack” winds around a recurring, off-kilter riff. “Let’s Make It” careens through a breathless stomp and hard guitar breaks. “Sweet Evil” smolders through a restrained entrance before heavier passages break into a fast final jam. “Drivin’ Sideways” swerves between firm riffs and a loping offbeat figure. “I Didn’t Ask to Be Born” races through a frantic, syncopated figure with terse accents.

A1. “Don’t Stop Loving Me” (4:49)
A2. “Sittin’ by the Pool” (4:39)
A3. “Keep On Makin’ Love” (3:22)
A4. “One Eyed Jack” (4:43)

B1. “Let’s Make It” (3:35)
B2. “Sweet Evil” (6:50)
B3. “Drivin’ Sideways” (4:48)
B4. “I Didn’t Ask to Be Born” (3:44)

Derringer recorded and mixed Sweet Evil at the Record Plant in New York with producer Jack Douglas and engineers Dennis Ferrante and Jay Messina. Douglas entered the sessions between 1976/77 albums by Aerosmith (Rocks, Draw the Line) and Cheap Trick (Cheap Trick).

Scher designed the monochrome sleeve around photography by Jim Houghton. The front cover presents the four musicians in dark clothing against a neutral studio backdrop, with the Derringer logotype positioned between the separated words “Sweet” and “Evil.”

Blue Sky serviced “Don’t Stop Loving Me” to American radio during 1977.

Derringer Live

Derringer released Derringer Live during 1977 on Blue Sky.

The album draws from concerts in Toronto, Hartford and Youngstown. Johnson, Aaronson and Appice complete the quartet, which combines band material with songs from the first two Rick Derringer solo albums.

A1. “Let Me In” (3:13)
A2. “Teenage Love Affair” (3:27)
A3. “Sailor” (4:53)
A4. “Beyond the Universe” (7:57)

B1. “Sittin’ by the Pool” (5:01)
B2. “Uncomplicated” (3:05)
B3. “Still Alive and Well” (3:26)
B4. “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” (8:41)

Derringer produced Derringer Live from concert recordings made in Hartford, Youngstown, and Toronto. Dave Still recorded and mixed the performances, continuing the engineering role he later held on Face to Face.

Concert photographer Ron Pownall supplied the front-cover stage image. David Gahr filled the back cover and inner sleeves with additional performance photographs.

The album marked the final release by the original quartet.

1977–78 Side Credits and Lineup Change

Derringer joined Todd Rundgren during the concerts documented on the 1978 album Back to the Bars and played guitar on the live version of “Hello It’s Me.”

Johnson and Appice left Derringer after the 1977 touring cycle and formed Axis. Aaronson remained on bass, while drummer Myron Grombacher entered the group. The revised trio recorded the final Derringer studio album with additional parts by Dan Hartman and guitarist Mark Cunningham.

If I Weren’t So Romantic, I’d Shoot You

Derringer released its third and final studio album, If I Weren’t So Romantic, I’d Shoot You, during 1978 on Blue Sky.

The album presents Derringer, Aaronson and Grombacher as the core trio. Dan Hartman plays keyboards and rhythm guitar on six selections. Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn wrote “It Ain’t Funny,” while Hartman wrote “Power of Love.” Alice Cooper and Bernie Taupin collaborated with Derringer on the title song. Aaronson and Grombacher wrote “Tonight” and “Attitude,” while Grombacher also shared “Monomania.”

“It Ain’t Funny” bounds through a bright repeated phrase with emphatic delivery. “EZ Action” jolts through a compact riff before a hard guitar solo. “Rocka Rolla” bounces on jumpy riffing and a fifties-styled shuffle. “Monomania” crackles through slowed and sped-up interjections before a cartoonish final charge.

A1. “It Ain’t Funny” (3:45)
A2. “Midnight Road” (3:55)
A3. “If I Weren’t So Romantic, I’d Shoot You” (4:12)
A4. “EZ Action” (3:20)
A5. “Lawyers, Guns and Money” (2:52)

B1. “Power of Love” (3:03)
B2. “Sleepless” (3:42)
B3. “Tonight” (3:02)
B4. “Rocka Rolla” (2:59)
B5. “Attitude” (3:56)
B6. “Monomania” (3:06)

Derringer recorded If I Weren’t So Romantic, I’d Shoot You during 1978 with producer Mike Chapman and engineer Paul Coleman, assisted by Jay Krugman and Larry Gates. Chapman arrived during the same production period as Nick Gilder (City Nights) and Blondie (Parallel Lines).

Elena Pavlov designed the sleeve around photography by John Paul Endress and extended the packaging onto a printed inner sleeve.

Blue Sky issued “Lawyers, Guns and Money” in June 1978 (b/w “Sleepless”).

1978–79 Side Credits

Derringer expanded his touring group with guitarist and keyboardist Neil Giraldo, who remained for the next solo album before joining the band assembled for Pat Benatar.

Aaronson and Grombacher also continued into the solo sessions, which reunited Derringer with Rundgren at Bearsville.

Guitars and Women

Rick Derringer released his third solo album, Guitars and Women, during 1979 on Blue Sky.

The album features Giraldo beside returning players Aaronson and Grombacher. Rick Nielsen wrote “It Must Be Love” and “Need a Little Girl (Just Like You).” Grombacher collaborated with Derringer on “Guitars and Women,” “Man in the Middle” and “Desires of the Heart.”

“Everything” unfolds from a classical guitar passage into heavier sections and complex turns. “It Must Be Love” jolts through jagged riffs and broken runs. “Timeless” escalates into a fiery instrumental passage. “Hopeless Romantic” lingers over piano with broad, sustained phrases. “Need a Little Girl (Just Like You)” gathers from a sparse opening into a hard-charging jam. “Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” swells from measured phrasing into a forceful chorus and extended solo.

A1. “Something Warm” (3:30)
A2. “Guitars and Women” (3:34)
A3. “Everything” (6:39)
A4. “Man in the Middle” (3:17)
A5. “It Must Be Love” (3:39)

B1. “Desires of the Heart” (3:59)
B2. “Timeless” (4:34)
B3. “Hopeless Romantic” (3:03)
B4. “Need a Little Girl (Just Like You)” (3:30)
B5. “Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” (3:38)

Sessions occurred at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, where Derringer co-produced Guitars and Women with Todd Rundgren, who engineered the album amid 1979 production work on releases by The Tubes (Remote Control), Patti Smith Group (Wave), and Tom Robinson Band (TRB Two).

Lloyd Ziff designed the blue sleeve around portrait photography by Norman Seeff. The cover places Derringer and his guitar against a flat blue field, crossed by a yellow script nameplate beneath the narrow red title strip.

Blue Sky issued “Something Warm” in October 1979 (b/w “Need a Little Girl (Just Like You)”). “Don’t Ever Say Goodbye” followed in February 1980 (b/w “Timeless”).

Giraldo left the touring group and joined Pat Benatar before the sessions for Crimes of Passion. Derringer returned to Steely Dan for “My Rival” on the 1980 album Gaucho. He formed a new road and studio group around bassist Donnie Kisselbach, keyboardist Benjy King and drummer Jimmy Wilcox.

Face to Face

Rick Derringer released his fourth solo album, Face to Face, in September 1980 on Blue Sky.

The album introduces Kisselbach, King and Wilcox as the supporting group. Six studio recordings share the LP with live versions of “Jump, Jump, Jump” and the Neil Young–Jeff Blackburn song “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue).” Kisselbach collaborated on “Runaway” and “Let the Music Play,” wrote “Burn the Midnight Oil,” and joined Derringer throughout the touring cycle.

“Runaway” rises from piano into a brisk full-band passage. “You’ll Get Yours” bounds through a buoyant riff and brisk accents. “Burn the Midnight Oil” barrels through a hard-edged riff with sustained drive. “Let the Music Play” skips through layered group singing and a bright repeated phrase. “Jump, Jump, Jump” burns through live solo passages before dropping into a piano-led lower register. “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” grinds through a guitar-heavy live reading with an extended solo.

A1. “Runaway” (4:37)
A2. “You’ll Get Yours” (4:57)
A3. “Big City Loneliness” (3:58)
A4. “Burn the Midnight Oil” (5:34)

B1. “Let the Music Play” (3:25)
B2. “Jump, Jump, Jump” (7:12)
B3. “I Want a Lover” (3:23)
B4. “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” (6:09)

Sessions occurred at the Schoolhouse, where Derringer produced Face to Face with engineer and mixer Dave Still. STARFLEET recorded “Jump, Jump, Jump” and “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” at Uncle Sam’s in Hull, Massachusetts, with Still assisted by Robert L. Demuth and Steve Canavan; Ted Jensen recorded “Burn the Midnight Oil” at Media Sound in New York.

CBS art director Paula Scher designed the sleeve around photography by Richard Avedon. The tightly cropped cover aligns half of the Derringer portrait with a guitar headstock, extending the face-to-face premise through the two vertical forms.

Blue Sky issued “Runaway” in September 1980 (b/w “Teenage Love Affair”). The label circulated “Let the Music Play” as a promotional single during December.

1980–83 Side Credits

Derringer contributed to the 1980 albums Schwartz by Eddie Schwartz and Connections by Richie Havens.

Gary Katz used Derringer across the 1982 debut by the English jazz-pop duo Eye to Eye. Derringer played guitar on seven tracks and took the solo on “On the Mend.” He also guested on Donald Fagen‘s 1982 solo debut, The Nightfly.

His 1983 sessions included the guitar solos on “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” by Air Supply and its competing chart-topper “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler, both Jim Steinman productions. He also played on the Meat Loaf album Midnight at the Lost and Found and added the guitar solo to “Exciter” from the Kiss release Lick It Up.

Derringer and drummer Carmine Appice formed DNA for the 1983 album Party Tested. Derringer also produced the self-titled debut by “Weird Al” Yankovic and played guitar across the sessions. The partnership continued through the first six Yankovic studio albums.

Good Dirty Fun

Rick Derringer released his fifth solo album, Good Dirty Fun, in October 1983 on Passport.

The album retains Kisselbach, King and Wilcox, with Alan Merrill on guitar and backing parts. Roy Bittan adds synthesizer, while Bonnie Tyler appears on “When Love Attacks.” Larry Sloman collaborated on “I Play Guitar” and “Party at the Hotel.” Merrill co-wrote “Lesson Learned” and “White Heat,” while Merrill and Jake Hooker wrote “Shake Me!”

“Mistake Magnifique” scampers through a quick, springy pattern with terse breaks. “White Heat” bounces through a danceable beat and bright repeated phrases. “When Love Attacks” alternates lead lines between Derringer and Bonnie Tyler.

A1. “I Play Guitar” (4:17)
A2. “Party at the Hotel” (4:17)
A3. “Shake Me!” (2:55)
A4. “Lesson Learned” (3:36)
A5. “Hardball” (4:11)

B1. “Mistake Magnifique” (2:28)
B2. “White Heat” (4:12)
B3. “When Love Attacks” (4:01)
B4. “Numb” (3:17)
B5. “Just Wanna Dance” (3:52)

Sessions occurred during 1983 at Right Track Recording in New York, where Derringer produced Good Dirty Fun. Mike Young recorded the album with assistant Steve Kahn, while Frank Filipetti handled the mix.

Yasuhiro Yamauchi designed the front cover, which places a full-length Derringer guitar pose against an open white field beneath a black name strip. Murray Brenman designed the back cover.

Several overseas editions altered the sequence and substituted “Do Wah Diddy” for material on the original American Passport pressing.

Later Work

Derringer continued as producer for “Weird Al” Yankovic through the 1989 album UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff. “Eat It” earned a Grammy Award during the partnership.

His subsequent recordings included Back to the Blues, Electra Blues, Tend the Fire, Blues Deluxe and Jackhammer Blues. He also recorded “Real American,” which became associated with professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, and joined Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band for tours during 2010 and 2011.

Derringer died in Ormond Beach, Florida, on May 26, 2025, at age 77.