Rick Derringer, the celebrated guitarist and songwriter best known for penning "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo," passed away on May 26, 2025, at the age of 77. The news was confirmed by his caretaker, Tony Wilson, via a Facebook post. Derringer had been facing several health issues prior to his death in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Born Richard Dean Zehringer in Ohio on August 5, 1947, Derringer's early success came with the band the McCoys. Their rendition of "Hang on Sloopy" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965, launching him into stardom at the young age of 16. His solo career included the album "All American Boy" in 1973, featuring "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo," which reached number 23 on the Billboard chart.
Derringer's extensive career included collaborations with Steely Dan, Alice Cooper, Kiss, and Barbra Streisand. He also produced Weird Al Yankovic's early albums and the World Wrestling Federation's "The Wrestling Album" in 1985, co-writing Hulk Hogan's iconic theme song, "Real American." His contributions to music and entertainment have left a lasting impact.