Rick Derringer (born Ricky Dean Zehringer; August 5, 1947) is a renowned American musician, producer, and singer/songwriter with a storied career spanning decades. He first rose to fame in the 1960s as the frontman of The McCoys, whose debut single, "Hang on Sloopy," became a number-one hit in 1965 and remains an iconic track from the garage rock era. The McCoys went on to chart seven Top 100 hits, including memorable covers of "Fever" and "Come on Let's Go."
In 1970, Derringer achieved solo success with his rock anthem "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo." He also became a key collaborator with brothers Edgar and Johnny Winter, serving as lead and backing guitarist in their bands and producing all of their gold and platinum albums. Among these were Edgar Winter's massive 1973 hits "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride."
Derringer's contributions to the music industry have earned him numerous accolades. He was inducted into both the Florida and California Music Hall of Fame and served on the board of the New York Grammy Association from 1973 to 1985. Over his career, he has earned six Grammy nominations, two Grammy Awards, three platinum albums, and four gold albums as an artist, musician, and producer.
In addition to his work with Edgar and Johnny Winter, Derringer has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Weird Al Yankovic, Air Supply, Alice Cooper, Steely Dan, Meatloaf, Cyndi Lauper, and Barbra Streisand. He also produced two iconic albums for the World Wrestling Federation: The Wrestling Album (1985) and its follow-up, Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II (1987). These featured memorable themes such as Hulk Hogan's entrance song, "Real American," and the tag team anthem "Demolition."
Further showcasing his versatility, Derringer produced three tracks for the soundtrack of the 1984 Tom Hanks film Bachelor Party: "Why Do Good Girls Like Bad Boys" and "Nature Took Over" by Angel and the Reruns, as well as "Little Demon" by Adrian Zmed.
Rick Derringer's impact on music as a performer, producer, and collaborator solidifies his legacy as one of rock and roll's enduring icons.
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