Latest news with #HangOnSloopy
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Music Legends Share Heartfelt Memories of Iconic Guitarist Who Died at 77
Music Legends Share Heartfelt Memories of Iconic Guitarist Who Died at 77 originally appeared on Parade. Guitarist , known for his work with The McCoy's and hit song 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,' died in Ormond Beach Florida on Monday, May 26. Shooting to fame at just 17 years old when The McCoy's dropped 'Hang On Sloopy" in 1965, the legendary rocker collected a Grammy Award for producing 'Weird Al ' Yankovic's debut album over his decades long career. Derringer worked with several other iconic artists in various capacities serving as a producer for Cyndi Lauper, rocked the solo on 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by Bonnie Tyler, and even did session work for Steely Dan. Fellow artist and alleged caretaker Tony Wilson made the heartbreaking announcement on Facebook the morning after his passing."To my rocking best friend Rick Derringer it was my pleasure to be with your caretaker was a natural thing..." Derringer had a remarkable "behind the scenes" resume. He had a hand in several beloved albums playing guitar with artists spanning genres from Barbera Streisand to Kiss. Derringer even left a mark on the World Wrestling Federation, producing their 'The Wrestling Album,' comprised of wrestler's theme songs that he also happened to work on. In fact, his hit "Real American" served as Hulk Hogan's iconic song. Many artists flooded social media with adoring memories of the late artist amid the news of his passing. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Cyndi Lauper recalled some of the incredible work they did together: "He was one of the great guitarists," she stated. "I co-wrote with him on my Blue Angel album. And we did wrestling music together which was so much fun. He played for me when I sang with Patti LaBelle on her special. He was in the band when I toured for True Colors in 86. And he's is also in the live at Le Zénith Paris video. We shared a lot of special moments together. Rest easy my friend." Beatles legend Ringo Starr also paid a beautiful homage to his fallen friend. "God bless Rick Derringer," he wrote on Instagram. "It was great playing with him in the All Starrs. I send peace and love to his family." And the love for Derringer doesn't stop there. In a recent Facebook post, Wilson noted his intention to honor the late artist on his birthday, August 5th, with a tribute show in Florida. Nothing has officially been scheduled as of yet. Music Legends Share Heartfelt Memories of Iconic Guitarist Who Died at 77 first appeared on Parade on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beloved '60s Rock Legend Dies at 77
Legendary guitarist Rick Derringer has sadly died. The "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" rocker passed due to heart issues on Memorial Day, May 26, according to TMZ. His wife reportedly told the outlet he died "peacefully" after being taken off life support, adding, "We thought we had years left but God's timing is perfect." Derringer's friend and alleged caretaker Tony Wilson told the outlet the rock legend underwent a triple bypass just two months ago but had recovered well until he took a turn on Monday evening. His wife told TMZ he was in good spirits despite his surgery and said he was "so positive and peaceful." The Grammy winner later died at a hospital in Ormond Beach, FL. Derringer first rose to fame as a teen performing with The McCoys, known for their song "Hang On Sloopy." He went on to collaborate with legends like KISS, Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, Alice Cooper, Steely Dan and "Weird Al" Yankovic. He won a Grammy Award in 1985 for producing Yankovic's parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It," called "Eat It," which won for Best Comedy Recording. Beloved '60s Rock Legend Dies at 77 first appeared on Parade on May 27, 2025
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rock Icon Shares Eulogy To ‘Dear Friend' and Fellow Legend Who Died At 77
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Rock Icon Shares Eulogy To 'Dear Friend' and Fellow Legend Who Died At 77 originally appeared on Parade. There may not have been a Rick Derringer without Edgar Winter. Derringer, the legendary guitarist behind the classic rock hit, 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,' died on May 26 at age 77. As a teen, Derringer tasted success as part of the '60s rock group, The McCoys—best known for their hit, 'Hang On Sloopy.' However, in the 1970s, his career received a boost when he first collaborated with Johnny Winter, before joining his brother's band. As part of Edgar Winter's White Trash and then The Edgar Winter Group, Derringer produced and played on hit songs 'Frankenstein' and 'Free Ride.' Derringer also recorded versions of 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo' on the albums Johnny Winter And and Edgar Winter's Roadwork. But it's the version on Derringer's debut album, 1973's All American Boy, that became a Top 25 hit. Following Derringer's death, Edgar Winter shared a touching tribute to his friend on social media. 'I write this with a heavy heart, yet one filled with so many memories,' he wrote. 'I lost a dear friend and bandmate, and the world lost one of the greatest guitarists and writers in Rock 'n' Roll. Rick Derringer! 'Rick was one of the most gifted, versatile, and adaptable guitarists I ever had the honor and pleasure of working with. He was a kindred spirit who loved and understood all music,' continued Winter, who called Derringer a 'true artist and creative collaborator.' 'His positive energy both on and offstage with our bands…gave us (and the world) moments to treasure for all time,' concluded Edgar. 'Rick is now up there with Johnny — in Rock 'n ' Roll Blue Heaven! I look up to them both with undying love and admiration.' Rick Derringer is also known for 'Real American,' the theme song to WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan. Derringer also worked with KISS, Cyndi Lauper, Alice Cooper, Steely Dan and 'Weird Al' Yankovic. Derringer won a Best Comedy Recording Grammy for producing 'Eat It,' Yankovic's parody of Michael Jackson's 'Beat It.'Rock Icon Shares Eulogy To 'Dear Friend' and Fellow Legend Who Died At 77 first appeared on Parade on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Rick Derringer obituary
As a member of the American band the McCoys, the guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Rick Derringer, who has died aged 77, scored a US No 1 hit with the 1965 single Hang on Sloopy, which also made it to No 5 in the UK. Later he went on to record and perform with some of the most famous names in the music industry over a career spanning six decades. Hang on Sloopy, with Derringer on vocals, was not the McCoys' own song; written by Wes Farrell and Bert Berns, it had first been recorded the year before by the Los Angeles soul vocal group Vibrations, and had largely gone unnoticed, although it quickly became a favourite of US garage rock bands of the era. The McCoys' version made the song popular across the world, and they went on to have a another Top 10 hit in the US with a cover of Fever, written by Eddie Cooley and John Davenport, and a Top 40 interpretation of Come on, Let's Go, written by Ritchie Valens. However, two subsequent psychedelic albums failed to build on the popularity of those singles, and when the group disbanded in 1969, Derringer joined the blues guitarist Johnny Winter to play on Johnny Winter And (1970) and Live Winter And (1971). He also recorded with Johnny's younger brother, Edgar Winter, producing the hit singles Frankenstein (1973) and Free Ride (1973), among others. That work gained him a strong reputation as a guitarist and producer, and he subsequently worked with Alice Cooper and Todd Rundgren, played slide guitar on the Steely Dan single Show Biz Kids (1973), and a guitar solo on the song Chain Lightning, on their Katy Lied album (1975). He also worked with Bonnie Tyler, Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf, and in 1986 Cyndi Lauper called on him to provide guitar work for two tracks on her album True Colors. Another powerhouse vocalist, Barbra Streisand, featured him as lead guitar player on her single Left in the Dark (1984), and he played on Air Supply's Making Love Out of Nothing at All (1983) as well as Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart (1983). In addition he toured three times with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr band, and played in a performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York with Paul McCartney to celebrate Starr's 70th birthday in 2010. Derringer was born Richard Zehringer in Celina in Ohio, the son of John, a railway worker, and his wife, Janice (nee Thornburg), and grew up in Fort Recovery, Ohio. His family moved to Union City, Indiana, when he was in his early teens, and it was there that he began his music career in 1962, forming Rick and the Raiders with his brother Randy on drums and Dennis Kelly on bass. With expansion and personnel changes, they eventually became the McCoys, and following the success of Hang On Sloopy, Derringer also changed his name – in order, he said, to make it easier to pronounce and remember. Derringer's first solo album, All American Boy (1973), featured his composition Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo, which has become a classic of rock radio. The track was released as a single that peaked at No 23 on the US charts, and is featured on the soundtracks of Richard Linklater's movie Dazed and Confused (1993) and in season four of the Netflix series Stranger Things (2022). Subsequent solo albums were not commercially successful, but the list of artists that Derringer worked with in the 80s read like a Who's Who of popular recording acts of the era. Two of his more left-field collaborations came as producer of the first six albums for the comedy musician Weird Al Yankovic and of two albums of music in conjunction with the World Wrestling Federation, The Wrestling Album (1985) and Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II (1987), both featuring the theme music of various wrestlers. His song Real American was the theme for the tag team US Express and subsequently for Hulk Hogan, and in 2011 President Barack Obama used that tune as walk-on music at the White House correspondents' dinner while his birth certificate was displayed on a video screen; an irony given that Derringer was a Donald Trump supporter. With his third wife, Jenda Hall, Derringer later recorded four Christian-themed albums. Two earlier marriages, to the journalist Liz Agriss and then to the singer and percussionist Dyan Buckelew, ended in divorce. He is survived by Jenda and a daughter, Mallory, from his second marriage. Richard Dean Derringer (Zehringer), musician, born 5 August 1947; died 26 May 2025
CBS News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Rick Derringer, who shot to fame with "Hang On Sloopy" and sang Hulk Hogan's theme song, dies at 77
Guitarist and singer Rick Derringer, who shot to fame at 17 when his band The McCoys recorded "Hang On Sloopy," had a hit with "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and earned a Grammy Award for producing "Weird Al " Yankovic's debut album, has died. He was 77. Derringer died Monday in Ormond Beach, Florida, according to a Facebook announcement from his caregiver, Tony Wilson. No cause of death was announced. Derringer's decades in the music industry spanned teen stardom, session work for bands like Steely Dan, supplying the guitar solo on Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and producing for Cyndi Lauper. "Derringer's legacy extends beyond his music, entertaining fans with his signature energy and talent. His passing leaves a void in the music world, and he will be deeply missed by fans, colleagues, and loved ones," Wilson wrote. Guitarist Rick Derringer performs at Radio City Music Hall in New York on July 7, 2010. Evan Agostini / AP As a teen, he formed the McCoys with his brother, Randy, and found fame singing "Hang On Sloopy," a No. 26 hit about lovers from different socioeconomic circumstances. Derringer enjoyed his first solo hit with "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo," which was used in the fourth season of "Stranger Things." His best-charting album was "All American Boy" in 1973, which included the instrumentals "Joy Ride" and "Time Warp." His sole Grammy was for Yankovic's "Eat It," which had the Michael Jackson parodies "Eat It" and "Who's Fat." "I'm very sad to say that my friend, rock guitar legend Rick Derringer, has passed," Yankovic said in an Instagram post with a photo of him and Derringer in the studio. "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." Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Derringer worked extensively as a session musician, playing on albums by Steely Dan — including "Countdown to Ecstasy," "Katy Lied" and "Gaucho" — Todd Rundgren, Kiss and Barbra Streisand. He played on Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All." In the mid-1980s he began working with Lauper, touring in her band and playing on three of her albums, including the hit "True Colors." He toured with Ringo Starr and The All-Starr Band. In 1985, he produced the World Wrestling Federation's "The Wrestling Album," which consisted mostly of pro wrestlers' theme songs, many of which he co-wrote, including what would become Hulk Hogan's theme song "Real American."
