Legendary musician and producer Rick Derringer died on the age of 77 on Monday (Might twenty sixth). The singer-guitarist was frontman of the Nineteen Sixties band The McCoys (“Hold on Sloopy”) and a prolific solo artist (“Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo”), whereas additionally collaborating with numerous notable artists throughout his 60-year profession.
Derringer’s passing was confirmed by his spouse, Jenda Derringer, who disclosed to TMZ that the musician died peacefully at a Florida hospital after being taken off life assist following a medical episode. His caretaker, Tony Wilson, additional famous that Derringer had been doing properly after present process triple bypass surgical procedure a pair months in the past, however went into “some type of shock” on Monday evening.
Born in Celina, Ohio, as Richard Zehringer, he fashioned Rick and the Raiders within the early ’60s, later renaming the band The McKoys, and scoring a large hit with their model of “Hold on Sloopy” in 1965.
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After The McKoys broke up in 1969, Rick and his brother Randy joined Edgar Winter’s band, with Rick producing and enjoying guitar on Winter’s signature 1973 hit “Frankenstein.”
Rick additionally carved out a prolonged solo profession, releasing albums below his personal identify and together with his eponymous band Derringer. His tune “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” grew to become an enormous hit, and has since been utilized in Dazed and Confused and Stranger Issues.
Derringer was additionally an in-demand guitarist, lending his abilities to recordings by Barbra Streisand, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, and Bonnie Tyler (together with her chart-topper “Complete Eclipse of the Coronary heart”).
He additionally notably produced “Bizarre Al” Yankovic’s first six albums, incomes his solely Grammy win for the tune “Eat It.”
Our condolences exit to Rick Derringer’s household and mates throughout this troublesome time. Revisit two of his greatest hits within the movies beneath.