Latest news with #Sloopy
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ohio State rock' n' roll icon passes away after decades of bringing fans closer together
One of the men who has helped shape the culture of Ohio State athletic teams has passed away at the age of 77. While he never played in a game, Rick Derringer played something else that would make a lasting impression in the hearts of Buckeye fans all over the world. Derringer was a guitarist with a band called "The McCoys" who brought the song Hang on Sloopy to Buckeye Nation. The song made its Ohio Stadium debut on October 9, 1965 by the OSU marching band and was named the state's official rock song on November 20, 1985. If you're any kind of Ohio State fan and if you read Buckeyes Wire, you most likely are, you instantly know the rhythmic beat to the famed Sloopy. The tune has become a staple of just about every OSU sporting event since 1965, especially in the Horseshoe on Saturday afternoons in the fall. Just this past weekend, my wife and I were at a reception in Illinois, of all places, and the cover band began playing the familiar notes to the song. We both perked up and added the "O-H-I-O" at the appropriate time, to the looks of bewilderment from those not from the Buckeye State. Advertisement People come and go as is the nature of life. Our hope is that when we're gone, we'll leave some type of lasting impression, hopfully in a positive way. Rick Derringer was part of something that did just that. Although he and the band proably didn't know it at the time, they have become part of tradition that makes college sports so relatiable and brings people from all walks of life closer together. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Rick Derringer helped give Ohio State fans reason to sing
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ohio State rock' n' roll icon passes away after decades of bringing fans closer together
Ohio State rock' n' roll icon passes away after decades of bringing fans closer together One of the men who has helped shape the culture of Ohio State athletic teams has passed away at the age of 77. While he never played in a game, Rick Derringer played something else that would make a lasting impression in the hearts of Buckeye fans all over the world. Derringer was a guitarist with a band called "The McCoys" who brought the song Hang on Sloopy to Buckeye Nation. The song made its Ohio Stadium debut on October 9, 1965 by the OSU marching band and was named the state's official rock song on November 20, 1985. If you're any kind of Ohio State fan and if you read Buckeyes Wire, you most likely are, you instantly know the rhythmic beat to the famed Sloopy. The tune has become a staple of just about every OSU sporting event since 1965, especially in the Horseshoe on Saturday afternoons in the fall. Just this past weekend, my wife and I were at a reception in Illinois, of all places, and the cover band began playing the familiar notes to the song. We both perked up and added the "O-H-I-O" at the appropriate time, to the looks of bewilderment from those not from the Buckeye State. People come and go as is the nature of life. Our hope is that when we're gone, we'll leave some type of lasting impression, hopfully in a positive way. Rick Derringer was part of something that did just that. Although he and the band proably didn't know it at the time, they have become part of tradition that makes college sports so relatiable and brings people from all walks of life closer together.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Rick Derringer, music legend and 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo' hitmaker, dies at 77: Reports
Rick Derringer, music legend and 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo' hitmaker, dies at 77: Reports Guitar hero and rock 'n' roll legend Rick Derringer, of "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" and "Hang On, Sloopy" fame, has died in Ormond Beach, according to TMZ, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. He was 77. Derringer's wife, Jenda, told TMZ that the rock icon died on May 26 "peacefully" after being taken off life support Monday night following a medical episode. His caretaker and close friend, Tony Wilson, also told TMZ that Derringer had undergone triple bypass surgery just two months ago, but had been doing well. That changed on Monday night, Wilson told the outlet, when Derringer went into something that Wilson described as "some sort of shock" as he prepared for bed. He died at an undisclosed hospital, according to the family. Wilson told Variety that Derringer died in Ormond Beach, Florida. Derringer's caretaker also issued a statement on Facebook. "With a career spanning six decades, the legendary Rick Derringer left an indelible mark on the music industry as a guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer," Wilson said. "Derringer's legacy extends beyond his music, entertaining fans with his signature energy and talent," Derringer's caretaker continued. "His passing leaves a void in the music world, and he will be deeply missed by fans, colleagues and loved ones." Rick Derringer's six-decade career spanned various genres In a six-decade career, Derringer was a Zelig-like figure who was involved in an astonishing array of music by performers that defied genre expectations. Born in Celina, Ohio, Derringer was 17 when he scored his first chart-topping hit, "Hang On, Sloopy," with the McCoys in the summer of 1965. The song displaced "Yesterday" by the Beatles at the top of the pop charts. From there, Derringer went on to an array of successful collaborations with luminaries that ranged from Johnny and Edgar Winter to Steely Dan, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Weird Al Yankovic, Cyndi Lauper and Barbra Streisand. A fiery, versatile and high-profile presence on New York's rock scene during the 1970s and '80s, Derringer produced the Edgar Winter Group's 1972 No. 1 single "Frankenstein," in addition to playing guitar for the band for several years. Rick Derringer's connection to guitarist and singer Dickey Betts Rick Derringer's signature solo hit, "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo," was released in 1973. The first verse includes the lyrics: "There was a group called The Jokers, they were layin' it down, 'cause ya know I'm never gonna lose that funky sound." The Jokers featured a pre-fame Dickey Betts, who grew up in the Bradenton area and died in 2024. About 15 years after the song's release, Betts and Derringer performed "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" together—a recording that can be heard on the Betts concert album "Live from the Lone Star Roadhouse NYC 1988." Derringer would eventually relocate to the same Sarasota-Manatee area that Betts had called home for most of his life. Although "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" was originally recorded by Johnny Winter, Derringer's version eclipsed the original — appearing on the soundtrack of the 1993 cult classic "Dazed and Confused" and resurfacing recently on the soundtrack for the fourth season of the Netflix hit series "Stranger Things." Derringer also toured extensively throughout the 1970s, offering shows heavy on guitar dueling and showmanship, perhaps best captured on his '77 LP "Derringer Live." Rick Derringer's work embraced by everyone from Air Supply to Trump In the early 1980s, he played guitar solos on two massive singles written by Meatloaf collaborator Jim Steinman: Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All." Derringer's collaborations with singer Cyndi Lauper in the mid-1980s resulted in a connection to the world of professional wrestling. In 1985, he produced the World Wrestling Federation's "The Wrestling Album," which included the Hulk Hogan theme song "Real American." Like so many things that Derringer created, that song also endured. It has been employed by politicians ranging from President Barack Obama to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as well as President Trump. Rick Derringer's real estate run after rock 'n' roll lifestyle Rick Derringer had a connection to Sarasota-Manatee in Florida, dating back at least two decades and including a stint as a Realtor. In 2006, the Herald-Tribune, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported that the guitar great had become a sales agent for Sarasota's McKenna and Associates Realty. Derringer and his "third and last wife," Jenda, were born-again Christians who preferred to focus on the present rather than dwell on past rock 'n' roll excesses or successes, according to the Herald-Tribune. Still, Derringer knew that succeeding in real estate meant being visible: "Letting people know what you do," he said. Raised Catholic, he was reborn in a 1998 river baptism. By 2006, Derringer was attending various evangelical churches across Sarasota and Manatee counties, where he sometimes performed. Married since 1998, he credited Jenda with helping "manage the whole person, not just the career." The couple owned nine investment properties scattered throughout Southwest Florida, including rental units that generated cash flow, according to the Herald-Tribune. Despite his wife's misgivings, Derringer still loved to perform live, playing about 30 shows annually. He told the Herald-Tribune he earned between $5,000 and $10,000 per gig, depending on the venue. Rick Derringer's influence: 'He truly loved music' In the 1990s, Derringer met Damon Fowler, then a teenage guitar wunderkind from Brandon. Impressed by his playing, Derringer produced Fowler's 1999 debut album, "Riverview Drive." Fowler later moved to Anna Maria Island in Manatee County and became a national blues star, with his 2021 album "Alafia Moon" debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart. "Rick was a really great guy, a very interesting fellow, and I learned a lot from him," Fowler said via phone on May 27. "I cherish the time I got to spend with him. He was an amazing guitar player — one of the most fantastic I've ever had the chance to hang out with and see in person." Fowler added: "I don't think people realize how much Rick was involved in music. He played all kinds of genres. He was a producer. He played on Steely Dan records. He helped Cyndi Lauper get a record deal, toured with her, and played on her early demos. He worked with 'Weird Al' Yankovic. And of course, Johnny Winter and Edgar Winter. That's just scratching the surface. The guy was incredibly prolific. He truly loved music."
New York Times
02-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: NHL's melding of Ohio State and Blue Jackets could signal a new day
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A collection of notes, insights, ruminations and did-you-knows gathered throughout the week that was for the Columbus Blue Jackets: Two worlds collided on Saturday in Columbus in a way many locals never imagined. Script Ohio was formed in the middle of Ohio Stadium, but in a hockey rink, not on a football field. A crowd of nearly 95,000 chanted 'Johnny Hockey' one minute and sang 'Hang On, Sloopy' the next. The Ohio State University's championship football team was honored in the middle of a hockey game. Advertisement And in the afterglow of the Blue Jackets' 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL's latest Stadium Series game, the band played and the crowd sang 'Carmen Ohio,' Ohio State's alma mater. Most of those fortunate enough to attend the NHL's 43rd outdoor game seemed almost to float out of chilly Ohio Stadium late in the evening on Saturday, convinced that they'd witnessed one of the truly unique and memorable nights in the long sporting history of Columbus. Maybe some were wondering, too, if this is the beginning of a new day in Ohio's biggest city, one in which Columbus' major sports franchises do more than simply co-exist, but start working on ways to support and elevate each other. It hasn't always been that way. When the Blue Jackets first arrived on the scene in 2000, Ohio State acted like a big brother who never really wanted a sibling. If not for Blue Jackets founder John H. McConnell, who pushed to build Nationwide Arena beginning in 1998, the Jackets would have played in Schottenstein Center and lived under OSU's thumb. Even though Nationwide Arena and Ohio Stadium are barely three miles apart, the Blue Jackets and Ohio State existed in almost separate universes during the early years of the Blue Jackets. This has never made sense, of course. Fans in Detroit have no issue cheering for the Red Wings, Tigers and Lions and either Michigan or Michigan State. Fans in Boston support the Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots and either Boston U. or Boston College. Too often, fans in Columbus have been placed in different buckets, in which they either cheer for Ohio State or the Blue Jackets or the Columbus Crew, one of Major League Soccer's top organizations. In fact, that's never been true. The vast majority of fans have no issue supporting all three. For fans of certain age, Columbus had a certain sporting hierarchy for most of their lives. The block 'O' of Ohio State loomed large above the local sporting scene, with the Blue Jackets and Columbus Crew fighting to be seen in the periphery. It's too big to be acting that way. This is a surprise to many, even locals, but Columbus is Ohio's largest city, with 913,000 residents, according to the latest U.S. Census. It's bigger than the combined populations of Ohio's better-known big cities Cleveland (362,000) and Cincinnati (311,000) by nearly a quarter-million residents. Advertisement Judging by online comments on this site and others, there were some Blue Jackets fans who felt as if Saturday's game had too much of an Ohio State touch. I'm sure there are Ohio State fans who weren't too excited to have an NHL game played in 'their' stadium, especially one featuring a Columbus dressed in blue and the Michigan team wearing red. (Hey, at least it wasn't scarlet!) Each of those opinions are valid, of course, but both of them, I believe, are in the minority. Sports, like politics, can make for strange bedfellows. Most fans, especially those 30 and younger, see Ohio State sports, the Blue Jackets and the Crew as existing on even footing. Most on hand for Saturday's festivities seemed to stand in awe of the scene and the atmosphere, the perfect melding of the city's two biggest sports franchises. Saturday's game probably wouldn't have happen if not for key developments at Ohio State and in college athletics, specifically football. The expanded college football playoffs, now at 12 teams, requires universities to host opening-round games, meaning teams (especially in the north) needed to get their buildings ready for winter. Ohio State took steps to winterize Ohio Stadium — the tune of $8 million — in the event that it hosted a game. And wouldn't you know, they hosted Tennessee in a first-round game on Dec. 21. Before the grand old stadium was winterized, the water would have been shut off by that date, leaving it unable to host events such as an outdoor hockey game. It's likely that Ohio State president Ted Carter (an avid hockey fan) and new athletic director Ross Bjork will signal a change in the future relationship, too. There were minor quibbles behind the scenes of Saturday's events. An NHL executive told The Athletic that Ohio State at first resisted allowing the league to refer to the game as 'the' Stadium Series because OSU has trademarked 'THE' on clothing and other branded products. Advertisement The school also wouldn't allow Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins to put buckeye leaves on his helmet, and they wouldn't allow the NHL to use its name for the pre-game football pep rallies — Skull Session — to promote its own pep rally in St. John Arena. But to get stuck on these details is to ignore the big one: Ohio State opened up its grand stage, the largest stadium in Ohio and one of the largest in the country, so that the Blue Jackets and the NHL could have a celebration. Saturday is a night many will remember forever. In the minutes after the Blue Jackets clinched the win and the cannon blasted for a final time, fans filed out of Ohio Stadium singing 'We Don't Give A Damn for the Whole State of Michigan,' just as they do on football Saturdays. Except this time they wore Blue Jackets sweaters. Meredith Gaudreau and her two kids helped lead the Blue Jackets onto the ice on Saturday. The Red Wings arrived at the stadium decked out in Gaudreau jerseys from all points in his career, including his high school days. A gigantic No. 13 flag was passed around Ohio Stadium in the third period. As has been the case all season, the Stadium Series game was full of tributes and remembrances of Gaudreau, who was killed along with his brother Matthew when they were struck by an SUV while riding bikes in New Jersey last August. But the Blue Jackets found a subtle and special way to honor their former teammate on Saturday, They walked into St. John Arena for a pre-game pep rally, then walked several hundred feet through a tunnel of fans wearing sweatshirts from Avalon Surf Shop in Avalon, N.J., located just off the Jersey Shore beach. Play as Johnny played. Dress as Johnny dressed. #CBJ enter Ohio State's St. John Arena to a thunderous welcome, honoring Johnny Gaudreau, who always wore hoodies and T-shirts repping businesses from back home. — Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 1, 2025 On non-game days, Gaudreau would often be seen in shirts and sweatshirts that repped local businesses near his Jersey home. 'It was a pretty collective (idea) with the older guys on the team,' Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner said. 'We thought it quite a while ago, and we just thought it was fitting. To us, that's the signature Johnny 'fit, and we've seen him come to the rink in that or something very similar. It's just a special thing we wanted to do for him, and we've had so many good times with him in those clothes. Advertisement 'Mere helped us out so much in tracking down those sweaters that he always wore from Avalon, and we just kind of pieced together the rest. It was special to wear that and come in like that, for us.' Jane Gaudreau, Johnny and Matthew's mother, was also in Ohio Stadium in Saturday after returning from Detroit on Thursday, where she was included in the Blue Jackets' moms trip. On Sunday morning, Meredith Gaudreau released a statement through the Blue Jackets: On behalf of Meredith Gaudreau: — Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 2, 2025 • Well into the fall, there was private concern within the Blue Jackets and the NHL that ticket sales were lagging for the Stadium Series and Ohio Stadium might not be close to sold out when Saturday's game was staged. But NHL president of content and events Steve Mayer said the league was impressed by the brisk pace of ticket sales as the game drew near. Early last month, Mayer said the league was expecting about 85,000 fans. By the early part of last week, he indicated that it would clear 90,000. The final count: 94,751. The league did not announce a capacity, but they took roughly 10,000 seats out of 'inventory,' Mayer said, because the large section of seats behind the Twenty One Pilots' stage was obstructed. Also, the league had to create camera decks in C-deck sections on both sides of the stadium. • It was the second-largest crowd in NHL history, exceeded only by the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The announced attendance to watch the Red Wings and Maple Leafs that day was 105,491. • The Blue Jackets have come out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break with four straight wins: 5-1 vs. Chicago, 6-4 vs. Dallas, 5-2 in Detroit and 5-3 vs. Detroit on Saturday. They've now scored five or more goals in 19 of their 60 games this season, including a franchise-record four consecutive games. They scored five-plus in three straight games way back in February of the inaugural season (2000-01). Advertisement • Defenseman Zach Werenski assisted on Dmitri Voronkov's power-play goal in the second period and on Adam Fantilli's empty-net goal with just over a minute to play on Saturday. It was his 16th multi-point game of the season, but it also allowed him to catch a franchise legend. With 258 career assists, Werenski is now tied with Rick Nash for the most in franchise history. It took Nash, a power forward and goal-scoring behemoth, 674 games. Werenski is at 545 games and counting. • Plus-minus is a much-debated stat, but there's no question right winger Kirill Marchenko is on quite a run. He's plus-35 on the season, tied with Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh for tops in the entire NHL. If this holds, it'll be a franchise record, as the previous mark was held by defenseman David Savard (plus-33 in 2016-17). Since Dec. 15, Marchenko has a plus-25 rating in 27 games, and in that span he's had only one game — one! — with a negative. He was minus-2 on Jan. 20 when the Blue Jackets lost a road game to the New York Islanders. • Sunday Gathering trivia question: Werenski had a secondary assist on Voronkov's power-play goal on Saturday for his 21st power-play point this season, matching a career high. Who holds the franchise record for the most power-play points in a single season? • Red Wings coach Todd McLellan, who interviewed for the Blue Jackets job last summer before GM Don Waddell hired Dean Evason, was asked after Saturday's game what he sees in the Blue Jackets after coaching against them three times since he was hired by Detroit on Dec. 26. 'They're having fun playing the game,' McLellan said. 'When you're having fun playing the game, it comes easier. Their staff has done a tremendous job putting structure in their play. The belief system is strong. Put those things together, you give yourself a chance to win. The talent is spread out throughout the league, but you have to have those three things to have success, and Columbus has them right now.' • Saturday was Detroit's fourth outdoor game, but first since 2017. So for many players on the roster — not Dylan Larkin or Erik Gustafsson, and certainly not Patrick Kane — playing outside was a new experience, especially in the NHL. Advertisement Here's McLellan on how the Red Wings viewed the scene in Ohio Stadium: 'It's a really unique experience for us, an incredible night. Well done. The league, the city of Columbus, and obviously the Blue Jackets deserve a lot of credit for the way they put this game on. It was really smooth and first-class all the way through. The fans got a hell of a game to watch. We'll all tell these stories in 10 years or so. You'd like to end that story with, 'Oh, and we won.' But we can't do that. Hopefully we'll get another chance to play in a game like this and be able to say that.' • The Blue Jackets were off on Sunday, a much-needed day to breathe. They'll get back to practice on Monday, then depart later in the day for Tampa Bay, where on Tuesday they begin a four-game road trip against the Lightning. The trade deadline arrives on Friday, the day after the Blue Jackets play in Florida against the defending Stanley Cup champions. After this trip, the Blue Jackets will finish with 11 of their final 18 games in Nationwide Arena. • It's now safe for Blue Jackets fans to check the standings and the scoreboard on a daily basis. But don't just look down from the Blue Jackets' current spot in the first wild-card in the Eastern Conference. Look up, too. Heading into Sunday's games, the Blue Jackets are just four points behind Carolina and New Jersey, the second- and third-place teams in the Metropolitan Division. Carolina hosts Calgary and New Jersey plays in Vegas on Sunday. On Dec. 18, the Blue Jackets were 12-15-5 (29 points) and trailed New Jersey by 16 points and Carolina by 12. Since then, the Jackets have gone 18-7-3. • Trivia answer: Ray Whitney, aka 'The Wizard', had 42 power-play points (8-34-42) during the 2002-03 season, finishing tied for third in the NHL behind only Vancouver's Markus Naslund (54 points) and Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux (45). (Top photo of Script Ohio at the Stadium Series: Jeff Dean / Getty Images)
