View source for Rick Derringer

{{Short description|American rock musician (1947–2025)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Rick Derringer
| image             = Rick Derringer.jpg
| caption           = Derringer in 1974
| alt               = Derringer playing guitar onstage
| birth_name        = Richard Dean Zehringer
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date|1947|8|5|mf=yes}}
| birth_place       = [[Celina, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|2025|5|26|1947|8|5|mf=yes}}
| death_place       = [[Ormond Beach, Florida]], U.S.
| instrument        = {{hlist|Guitar|vocals}}
| genre             = {{nobr|{{hlist|[[Hard rock]]|[[blues rock]]|[[pop rock]]}}}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|producer}}{{force singular}}
| years_active      = 1965–2025
| label             = 
| past_member_of    = [[The McCoys]]
| website           = {{URL|https://rickderringer.com/}}
}}

'''Richard Dean Zehringer''' (August 5, 1947 – May 26, 2025), known professionally as '''Rick Derringer''', was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He gained success in the 1960s with his band, [[the McCoys]]. Their debut single, "[[Hang On Sloopy]]", became a number-one hit in 1965 and is regarded as a classic track from the [[garage rock]] era. The McCoys had seven songs chart in the top 100, including covers of "[[Fever (Little Willie John song)|Fever]]" and "[[Come On, Let's Go]]". After releasing ''[[All American Boy (Rick Derringer album)|All American Boy]]'', Derringer established a career as a solo artist.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/rick-derringer-hang-on-sloopy-real-american-writer-dead-1236411000/ |title=Rick Derringer, Singer of 'Hang on Sloopy,' Writer of 'Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo' and 'Real American' Wrestling Theme, Dies at 77 |first=Jem |last=Aswad |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 27, 2025 |access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref>

In 1973, Derringer found further success with his song "[[Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo]]". He worked extensively with brothers [[Edgar Winter|Edgar]] and [[Johnny Winter]], playing lead and rhythm guitar in their bands and producing all of their gold and platinum records, including Edgar Winter's hits "[[Frankenstein (instrumental)|Frankenstein]]" and "[[Free Ride (song)|Free Ride]]" (both in 1973). He collaborated with [[Steely Dan]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], and [["Weird Al" Yankovic]], producing Yankovic's Grammy Award-winning songs "[[Eat It]]" (1984) and "[[Fat (song)|Fat]]" (1988). He produced the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]]'s album ''[[The Wrestling Album]]'' (1985) and its follow-up, ''[[Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II]]'' (1987). Those albums featured [[Hulk Hogan]]'s entrance song, "Real American," initially the theme song of the tag team [[U.S. Express]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rick-derringer-dies-hang-on-sloopy-hulk-hogan-theme-song-age-77/|title=Rick Derringer, who shot to fame with "Hang On Sloopy" and sang Hulk Hogan's theme song, dies at 77|publisher=CBS News|date=May 28, 2025|access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref><ref name="realamerican">{{cite news |url=https://www.darientimes.com/entertainment/article/rick-derringer-dead-hulk-hogan-real-american-wwe-20347758.php |title=Rick Derringer Dead Hulk : Hogan Real : American WWE |first=Daniel |last=Figueroa |newspaper=[[The Darien Times]] |date=May 27, 2025 |access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref><ref name="realamericanorigin">{{cite book |first1=Greg |last1=Oliver |first2=Steve |last2=Johnson |title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams |publisher=[[ECW Press]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-5502-2683-6}}</ref> and the [[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]] tag team's theme, "Demolition." Derringer produced three songs on the soundtrack of the 1984 [[Tom Hanks]] film ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]''.

==Life and career==
===Early life and 1960s===
Derringer was born in [[Celina, Ohio]], on August 5, 1947, and grew up in [[Fort Recovery, Ohio|Fort Recovery]], Ohio. He was the son of John Otto Zehringer and Janice Lavine (Thornburg) Zehringer. His father was a section foreman on the [[Nickel Plate Road|Nickel Plate Railroad]].<ref name="lives">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JI4LHXgz7YEC&q=Janice+Thornburg+Zehringer&pg=PA160 |title=Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer & Trower: Their Lives and Music |first=Dan |last=Muise |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |year=2002|isbn=9780634029561 |quote="I was born a year and a half later, August 5, 1947, in Celina, 22 miles away. Fort Recovery didn't have a hospital." }}</ref> According to Derringer, aside from his parents' extensive record collection, his first major influence was his uncle Jim Thornburg, who was a popular guitarist and singer in Ohio. Derringer recalled hearing him play guitar in the kitchen of his parents' home and knowing immediately that he wanted to learn the instrument. He was eight years old at the time, and his parents gave him his first electric guitar for his ninth birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/classic-interview-rick-derringer-august-1975|title=Classic Interview Rick Derringer August 1975|website=GuitarPlayer.com}}</ref> Soon after, he and his brother Randy began playing music together, inspired by the "British invasion" of the Beatles and other UK bands in the early 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |website=thetimes.com |title=Obituary Rick Derringer| date=9 June 2025 | access-date=11 June 2025}}</ref> After he finished the eighth grade, the family moved to [[Union City, Indiana]], where Derringer formed a band he called [[the McCoys]]. He renamed the band the Rick Z Combo and then Rick and the Raiders before reverting to the original name. 

In the summer of 1965, before Derringer turned 18, the McCoys were hired to back a New York-based band called [[the Strangeloves]] in concert. The Strangeloves, record producers from New York City,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |website=thetimes.com |title=Obituary Rick Derringer| date=9 June 2025 | access-date=11 June 2025}}</ref> were looking for a band to record the song "My Girl Sloopy", written by Wes Farrell and Bert Berns,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |website=thetimes.com |title=Obituary Rick Derringer| date=9 June 2025 | access-date=11 June 2025}}</ref> and chose the McCoys. Derringer persuaded the producers to change the title to "[[Hang On Sloopy]]". The Strangeloves recorded the guitar and instrumental parts and the McCoys were brought into the studio to sing on the recording, which was released under their name in 1965 and reached number one on the [[Hot 100]]. [[Barry McGuire]]'s "[[Eve of Destruction (song)|Eve of Destruction]]" fell from number one to number two; [[The Beatles]]' "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]" zoomed from number 45 to number three.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-mccoys-hang-on-sloopy/ |title=The Story of the McCoys' Trip to the Top of the Charts With 'Hang On Sloopy' |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=October 2, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2017}}<br />{{cite news |url=http://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/1965/hot-100 |title=The Hot 100 – 1965 Archive {{!}} Billboard Charts Archive |newspaper=Billboard |access-date=January 5, 2017}}</ref> "Hang On Sloopy" became an anthem for Derringer's home state of [[Ohio]], especially at [[Ohio State Buckeyes]] football games, where fans chant "O-H-I-O" during the song's chorus. It is also a staple at [[Cleveland Guardians]] home games at [[Progressive Field]] and plays at the end of every tour at Ohio Caverns.

===1970s===
[[File:Rick Derringer - New Haven - 39705766633.jpg|thumb|Derringer performing at [[New Haven Coliseum]] in 1977]]

Derringer and the McCoys joined [[Johnny Winter]] in a group called "Johnny Winter And", with the "And" referring to the McCoys. Derringer later became part of [[Edgar Winter's White Trash]] and the [[Edgar Winter Group]].<ref name="And">{{cite web |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |title=AllMusic Review of Johnny Winter And |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/johnny-winter-and-mw0000312588 |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=April 21, 2017}}<br />{{cite web |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |title=Rick Derringer Biography |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rick-derringer-mn0000301404/biography |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=April 21, 2017}}<br />{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Michael B. |title=AllMusic Review of The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-edgar-winter-group-with-rick-derringer-mw0000584920 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=April 21, 2017}}</ref> After the McCoys split up, Derringer played guitar on albums by, among others, Steely Dan, Alice Cooper, Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |website=thetimes.com |title=Obituary Rick Derringer| date=9 June 2025 | access-date=11 June 2025}}</ref> 

In 1973, Derringer released his first solo album, ''[[All American Boy (Rick Derringer album)|All American Boy]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Koda |first1=Cub |title=AllMusic Review of All-American Boy |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-american-boy-mw0000199224 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=April 21, 2017}}</ref> which featured his hit song "[[Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo]]".<ref name="lives" /> The song had already appeared on the albums ''[[Johnny Winter And]]'' (1970)<ref name="And" /> and ''[[Roadwork (album)|Roadwork]]'' (1972). Derringer's version reached the Top 25 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart, becoming his highest-charting single,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/365024/rick-derringer/chart |title=Rick Derringer – Chart history {{!}} Billboard |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 4, 2017}}</ref> but despite the single's success the album, ''All American Boy,'' was not commercially successful.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://guitarsexchange.com/en/unplugged/1110/rick-derringer-all-american-boy-1973/|title=Rick Derringer:All American Boy (1973)|first=Sergio|last=Ariga|publisher=Guitar Exchange|access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref> One critic called it a "sadly neglected album of great merit".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2016/03/graded-on-a-curve-rick-derringer-all-american-boy/|title=Graded on a Curve: Rick Derringer, All American Boy|first=Michael H.|last=Little|date=March 16, 2016|website=The Vinyl District}}</ref>

Derringer's later albums, both solo and with his band Derringer, included 1977's ''Sweet Evil'', co-written with [[Cynthia Weil]] and ''[[Rolling Thunder Revue]]'' author [[Larry Sloman]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-evil-mw0000857063|title=Sweet Evil – Rick Derringer |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 10, 2019}}<br />{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/if-i-werent-so-romantic-id-shoot-you-mw0000857494|title=If I Weren't So Romantic, I'd Shoot You – Rick Derringer |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 10, 2019}}</ref> He released the critically acclaimed album ''Guitars and Women'' in 1979, which was re-released with liner notes by [[Razor & Tie]] in 1998. He played guitar on two [[Steely Dan]] tracks, "Show Biz Kids" on ''[[Countdown to Ecstasy]]'' (1973) and "Chain Lightning" on ''[[Katy Lied]]'' (1975), and is credited with having helped [[Donald Fagen]] to secure a record deal in 1972.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldpalladium.com/features/more-rock-n-roll-than-hoochie-koo/article_f2d46ac5-0139-5a1b-a986-03eb64c54982.html|title=More rock 'n' roll than hoochie koo|author=Tom Conway|newspaper=[[The Herald Palladium]]}}</ref> Derringer collaborated with his neighbor [[Todd Rundgren]], playing on four of Rundgren's solo albums. He was a regular in [[Andy Warhol]]'s circle<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thatericalper.com/johnny-winter-rick-derringer-edgar-winter-andy-warhol-ted-nugent-and-truman-capote/|title=Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Andy Warhol, Ted Nugent, and Truman Capote|website=Thatericalper.com|date=August 16, 2015 |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref> and frequently visited Warhol's studio, [[The Factory]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/cuepoint/so-you-want-to-be-a-rock-and-roll-star-e5b836118fcc |title=Neil Ratner Rock Doc – My Offbeat Rock & Roll Journey |publisher=Cuepoint |date=October 24, 2014}}</ref>

=== 1980s and 1990s ===
Derringer played guitar on "My Rival" from Steely Dan's ''[[Gaucho (album)|Gaucho]]'' (1980) and contributed to Fagen's first solo album, ''[[The Nightfly]]'' (1982). In 1983, he played guitar on two hit power ballads written and produced by [[Jim Steinman]]: [[Air Supply]]'s "[[Making Love Out of Nothing at All]]" and [[Bonnie Tyler]]'s "[[Total Eclipse of the Heart]]". Derringer said his guitar solo in "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" was his favorite of all the solos he had recorded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1055triplem.com/blogs/jonathan-kitty/making-love-out-nothing-all-worlds-worst-ipod |title=Making Love Out of Nothing At All: World's Worst iPod |date=May 25, 2016 |website=1055triplem.com |access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> That year, he recorded guitar parts for [[Meat Loaf]]'s poorly received album ''[[Midnight at the Lost and Found]]''. Both "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" were originally offered to Meat Loaf by Steinman for that album, but Meat Loaf's record company refused to pay Steinman for the compositions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://earofnewt.com/2014/08/09/rick-derringer-recalls-his-days-with-edgar-winter-and-ronnie-montrose/ |title=Guitar legend Rick Derringer soloed for everyone from Alice Cooper to Air Supply |date=August 10, 2014 |website=Ear of Newt |access-date=May 15, 2017}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://earofnewt.com/2016/09/24/that-time-rick-derringer-told-me-that-one-of-the-favourite-solos-he-ever-played-was-for-air-supply/ |title=That time Rick Derringer told me that one of the favorite solos he ever played was for Air Supply|date=September 25, 2016 |website=Ear of Newt |access-date=May 15, 2017}}</ref>

In 1983, Derringer wrote "Shake Me" for his ''Good Dirty Fun'' solo album, accompanied by a video produced by [[Jake Hooker (musician)|Jake Hooker]], the husband of [[Lorna Luft]]. Singer [[Lourett Russell Grant]] appeared in the video alongside Derringer. In 1984, Derringer played guitar on [[Barbra Streisand]]'s cover of Steinman's "[[Left in the Dark]]", released as the lead single from her album ''[[Emotion (Barbra Streisand album)|Emotion]]''. In 1985, Derringer's friendship with [[Cyndi Lauper]] led him and Steinman to collaborate again, with Derringer producing ''[[The Wrestling Album]]'' (1985) for the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]], consisting mostly of wrestlers' theme songs. He wrote several songs for the album, including "Real American",<ref name="realamerican" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-wrestling-album-at-30-the-inside-story-of-a-record-that-started-a-revolution-53620/|title='The Wrestling Album' at 30: How One Record Changed It All|first1=James|last1=Montgomery|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=November 18, 2015|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref> co-written with Bernard Kenny. The song was originally used as the theme song for [[U.S. Express]] ([[Barry Windham]] and [[Mike Rotunda]]), but  became [[Hulk Hogan]]'s theme song after Windham left the World Wrestling Federation in 1985.<ref name="realamericanorigin" /> The song was used by US President [[Barack Obama]] at the 2011 [[White House Correspondents Dinner|White House Correspondents' Dinner]], where he played it while unveiling his birth certificate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/30/white-house-correspondents-dinner-2011_n_855926.html |title=White House Correspondents Dinner: Obama Takes On Trump, Birthers, The Media, And More (VIDEO)|date=May 1, 2011 |work=[[HuffPost]] |access-date=May 15, 2017 }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://lowdownblog.com/2010/01/14/the-history-of-hulk-hogans-entrance-music/ |title=The History of Hulk Hogan's Entrance Music |date=January 15, 2010 |website=Lowdownblog|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> It was used as a campaign song by [[Hillary Clinton]], as a victory song by [[Newt Gingrich]], and in four videos during the campaign of [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/real-american-derringer-let-down/|title='Real American' Writer Says Song Deserved to Be "More Legit" Than Just a Wrestling Theme|first=Ryan|last=Satin|website=Prowrestlingsheet |date=July 4, 2018}}</ref> 

In 1986, Derringer worked with Meat Loaf again on ''[[Blind Before I Stop]]'', co-writing the song "Masculine". He played guitar on two songs on [[Cyndi Lauper]]'s album ''[[True Colors (Cyndi Lauper album)|True Colors]]'', "Calm Inside the Storm" and "The Faraway Nearby". From 1986 to 1992, he served as a guitarist on Lauper's tours and commented that Lauper was "better live" than [[Barbra Streisand]]. He played with Lauper again on her third album, ''[[A Night to Remember (Cyndi Lauper album)|A Night to Remember]]'', which was released in 1989.

In 1987, Meat Loaf appeared on ''Way Off Broadway'', a nationally distributed cable TV show with Derringer as the music director. The show was hosted by [[Joy Behar]]. Other guests on the show included [[Larry Carlton]], [[Robbie Dupree]], and [[Edgar Winter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anneleightonmedia.blogspot.com/2019/11/rick-derringer-and-joy-behar-videos.html|title=Anne Leighton: Rick Derringer and Joy Behar Videos!|first=Anne|last=Leighton|website=Anneleightonmedia.blogspot |date=November 6, 2019}}<br />{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/143205654/|title='Way off Broadway': a search for itself |work=The Advocate-Messenger|location= Danville, Kentucky|date= November 1, 1987|page= 37}}</ref> Derringer returned to the World Wrestling Federation in 1987 to produce a second music album, ''[[Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II]]''. He co-wrote the theme song for [[Demolition (professional wrestling)|Demolition]] and recorded a new version of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" as a duet with [[Gene Okerlund]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Wrestling-Album-II-Piledriver/release/3359097|title=Various – The Wrestling Album II: Piledriver|website=Discogs |date=1987 |access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref> 

In the 1980s, he produced the Kodomo Band and toured in Asia, including with [[Edgar Winter]], during the 1990 White Light tour,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/edgar-winter|title=Edgar Winter|website=Museum of the Gulf Coast}}</ref> and worked for several New York City-based [[jingle]] houses. Derringer produced [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s debut album, ''[["Weird Al" Yankovic (album)|"Weird Al" Yankovic]]'' (1983). Between 1983 and 1989, he produced six Yankovic albums, for which he received his only [[Grammy Award]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2017/02/16/how-weird-al-eclipsed-almost-every-star-he-ever-parodied/ |title=How 'Weird Al' eclipsed (almost) every star he ever parodied |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> Yankovic expressed openness to the idea of working with Derringer again.<ref name="lives" /><ref>{{cite web |first=Gus |last=Bernadicou |url=http://www.punkglobe.com/rickandjendaderringerinterview0212.php |title=Rick and Jenda Derringer |website=[[Punk Globe]] |date=February 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425230903/http://www.punkglobe.com/rickandjendaderringerinterview0212.php |archive-date=April 25, 2012}}</ref>

In 1997, Derringer became an [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christian]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-02-14-0202140141-story.html|title=DERRINGER BRINGS CHRISTIAN MUSIC TO CHENEY HALL|author=Roger Catlin|website=Courant |date=February 14, 2002 |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref> Thereafter, he consistently aligned himself with [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative causes in the United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rickderringer.com/testimony.html |title=Rick Derringer – Testimony |website=Rickderringer.com |access-date=April 16, 2018}}<br />{{cite web |url=http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2017/06/01/roger-stone-tangos-in-austin-will-anchor-infowars-by-night-may-let-a-flat/ |title=Roger Stone tangos in Austin. Will anchor Infowars by night. May let a flat. – First Reading |website=Politics.blog.mystatesman.com |access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> He described himself as a "[[Jesus freak]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=Rick and Jenda Derringer|url=http://www.punkglobe.com/rickandjendaderringerinterview0212.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425230903/http://www.punkglobe.com/rickandjendaderringerinterview0212.php|archive-date=April 25, 2012|access-date=April 16, 2018|website=Punk Globe}}</ref> and recorded albums of Christian songs with his third wife, Jenda.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2025 |title=Obituary Rick Derringer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |access-date=11 June 2025 |website=thetimes.com}}</ref>

===2000s and 2010s===
In 2001, Derringer, [[Tim Bogert]], and [[Carmine Appice]] released the album Derringer, Bogert & Appice (DBA): ''Doin' Business as...'' on the German record label [[SPV GmbH|Steamhammer Records]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-sky-is-falling-mw0001787296|title=The Sky Is Falling – Derringer, Bogert & Appice, DBA, Rick Derringer, Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=December 25, 2019}}</ref> Derringer had previously worked with Appice on an album, ''Party Tested'' by DNA (Derringer'n'Appice), and it was re-released in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/party-tested-mw0000841673/releases|title=Party Tested – Carmine Appice, Rick Derringer, DNA |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=December 25, 2019}}</ref>

In 2001, Derringer, his wife and their children released the first two of four Christian music albums through Panda Studio Productions:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20091105/News/605232718|title=Moving from biz to show biz|author=WADE TATANGELO|newspaper=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|access-date=April 14, 2020}}</ref> ''Aiming 4 Heaven'' (2001),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/release/17060340-The-Derringers-Aiming-4-Heaven | title=The Derringers – Aiming 4 Heaven | website=[[Discogs]] | date=2001 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-02-14-0202140141-story.html|title=DERRINGER BRINGS CHRISTIAN MUSIC TO CHENEY HALL|author=ROGER CATLIN |website=Courant.com|date=February 14, 2002 }}</ref> ''Derringer X 2'' (2001),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/release/23376656-The-Derringers-Derringer-X2 | title=The Derringers – Derringer X2 | website=[[Discogs]] | date=2010 }}</ref> the holiday album ''Winter Wonderland'' (2004),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://rickderringer.com/shop/ols/products/winter-wonderland | title=Winter Wonderland|website=Rickderringer.com }}</ref> and ''We Live'' (2008).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rickderringer-com.3dcartstores.com/|title=Welcome to Rick Derringer -|website=Rickderringer-com.3dcartstores.com|access-date=April 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://myspace.com/thederringerfamily/music/album/the-derringers-we-live-10007233|title=The Derringers: We Live|date=January 1, 2008|website=Myspace.com}}</ref> In 2002, Derringer was featured in Dan Muise's book ''Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer & Trower – Their Lives and Music''.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer, Trower: Their Lives and Music |isbn = 0634029568|last1 = Muise|first1 = Dan|year = 2002| publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation }}</ref> In 2002 he released ''Free Ride Smooth Jazz'', which included his smooth jazz radio hit remake "Jazzy Koo".<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Rick Derringer Biography|url=http://www.rickderringer.com/biography.html |website=Rickderringer.com |access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref>

In May 2009, he self-released the album ''Knighted by the Blues'' and its popular song, "Sometimes", co-written with Jenda. Derringer followed up with the release of ''The Three Kings of the Blues'' ([[Freddie King]], [[B.B. King]], [[Albert King]]) on [[Mike Varney]]'s [[Blues Bureau International]] Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shrapnelrecords.com/rick-derringer/three-kings-blues|title=The Three Kings Of The Blues |website=Shrapnerecords.com |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:20110626 070 All-Starr-Band-in-Paris Rick Derringer WP (cropped).jpg|thumb|Derringer playing with [[Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band]] in Paris, June 2011]]
Derringer went on three world tours with [[Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band]]. For one, rehearsals began in June 2010 and they traveled across Europe, Russia, South America, Mexico and the USA. The tour featured [[Wally Palmar]], [[Edgar Winter]], [[Gary Wright]], [[Richard Page (musician)|Richard Page]], and [[Gregg Bissonette]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/rick-derringer-on-touring-with-ringo-starr-and-his-all-starr-band-462750|title=Rick Derringer on touring with Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band|author=Joe Bosso|website=MusicRadar.com|date=June 16, 2011}}</ref> Derringer played with [[Paul McCartney]] in a performance at New York's Radio City to celebrate Starr's 70th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2025 |title=Obituary Rick Derringer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |access-date=11 June 2025 |website=thetimes.com}}</ref>

In 2013, Derringer and Jenda created the Asia Project after she discovered that the two largest-selling songs in history were Chinese. As Ricky Wu and Jenda Tu, the Derringers recorded and released their versions of the songs: Wang Qiwen and [[Yang Chengang]]'s 2004 song "Mouse Loves Rice"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glenclifford.com/WRIT/MOUSE/w4037709.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711100150/http://www.glenclifford.com/WRIT/MOUSE/w4037709.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2011|title=A Million Dollar Mouse!|date=July 11, 2011}}</ref> and the actress Liu Shi Shi's "Season of Waiting".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lalaladdy.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/bu-bu-jing-xin-ost-song-season-of-waiting-chinese-lyrics-pinyin-lyrics-and-english-translation/|title=Bu Bu Jing Xin OST Song – 'Season of Waiting' |website=Lalaladdy |date=October 10, 2011}}</ref>

In 2014, Derringer performed on [[Peter Frampton]]'s Guitar Circus tour with other notable guitarists, including [[B.B. King]], [[Roger McGuinn]] (ex-[[The Byrds|Byrds]]), [[Don Felder]] (ex-[[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]), [[Leslie West]] (ex-[[Mountain (band)|Mountain]]), [[Cheap Trick]]'s [[Rick Nielsen]], [[Toto (band)|Toto]]'s [[Steve Lukather]], [[Los Lobos]]' [[David Hidalgo]], and [[Pearl Jam]]'s [[Mike McCready]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2014/2/16/peter-frampton-schedules-summer-tour-dates-with-doobie-broth.html|title=Peter Frampton Schedules Summer Tour Dates with Doobie Brothers, Buddy Guy |website=[[ABC News Radio]]}}</ref>

In 2017, Derringer was charged with carrying a loaded gun on a [[Delta Air Lines]] flight from [[Cancún]] in Mexico to [[Atlanta]], Georgia. According to his manager, Derringer believed he was permitted to carry the gun due to his possession of a valid Florida [[concealed weapon]] permit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rock musician Rick Derringer charged with having loaded gun on Delta flight |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/rock-musician-rick-derringer-charged-with-having-loaded-gun-on-delta-flight/2312841/ |newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref> Derringer later pleaded guilty, agreeing to pay a $1,000 fine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rick Derringer pleads guilty to carrying loaded pistol on plane, in airport |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/rick-derringer-pleads-guilty-to-carrying-loaded-pistol-on-plane-in-airport |website=Fox News |date=February 24, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, Derringer re-recorded Hulk Hogan's theme, "Real American", with updated lyrics. The re-recorded version was released on May 28, 2017. To debut and promote the re-recording, Derringer appeared on [[Infowars]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://californiarocker.com/2017/05/28/rick-derringer-palace-standells/ |title=Exclusive Interview: Rick Derringer Talks Remarkable Career as he Plays Through the Work |website= California Rocker |date=May 28, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> Changes to the lyrics include "I gotta be a man, I can't let it slide" changed to "I gotta lend a hand, I can't let it slide" and "fight for the right of every man" changed to "fight for the rights of everyone". The lines "Best not mess with my US" and "Ours is a cause that's right and just, we're built on truth, in God we trust" were also added to the second verse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Q-jPTirhU|title=YouTube|website=YouTube|date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715000813/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Q-jPTirhU|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2019}}</ref> In 2017, Derringer collaborated with baseball players [[Tom Seaver]] and [[Gary Redus]] to release a version of "[[Take Me Out to the Ball Game]]", honoring his lifelong love of baseball. In 2018 he toured with [[Vanilla Fudge]], [[Mitch Ryder]] and [[Badfinger]] under the name "HippieFest".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sd-et-artscal-hippiefest-20180805-story.html |title='HippieFest 2018' to trip down memory lane with Vanilla Fudge, Mitch Ryder, Rick Derringer |date=August 3, 2018 |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |access-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref> Derringer performed the guitar solo for an anti-bullying campaign version of "Hang on Sloopy" by the Love Love Kids, released in October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lovelovekids.com/|title=Love Love Kids – Dayton, NV|website=Lovelovekids.com }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Derringer married Liz Agriss in 1969, a writer whom he met when she was working for Andy Warhol.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2025 |title=Obituary Rick Derringer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |access-date=11 June 2025 |website=thetimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Kofi Fosu |last=Forson |url=https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/in-conversation-with-elizabeth-derringer/2609 |date=August 2012 |title=August 2012: In Conversation with Elizabeth Derringer |magazine=[[Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art]]}}</ref> The marriage ended in divorce. He married secondly Dyan Buckelew and they had one daughter. The marriage also ended in divorce.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2025 |title=Obituary Rick Derringer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |access-date=11 June 2025 |website=thetimes.com}}</ref> His third wife was Jenda.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2025 |title=Obituary Rick Derringer |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/rick-derringer-obituary-singer-who-went-to-no-1-with-beatles-inspired-sound-xgkq0b7s7 |access-date=11 June 2025 |website=thetimes.com}}</ref> 

In 2017, Derringer appeared on [[Alex Jones]]'s ''[[Infowars]]'' several times. In one of those appearances, political consultant [[Roger Stone]] interviewed him about his support for [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web |date=December 7, 2016 |title=Roger Stone Speaks With Rock Icon Rick Derringer About His Support For Donald Trump |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tldBzQ27_sU |access-date=March 18, 2019 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref name="bio" />

== Death ==
Derringer died in [[Ormond Beach, Florida]] on May 26, 2025, at the age of 77.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Legendary Rock Guitarist Rick Derringer Dies At 77 |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/legendary-rock-guitarist-rick-derringer-dies-at-77 |access-date=May 27, 2025 |website=Blabbermouth.com |language=en}}</ref> According to ''[[TMZ]]'', Derringer's wife Jenda said he "died peacefully after being taken off life support Monday night following a medical episode". His caretaker and close friend, Tony Wilson, said Derringer had undergone a [[triple bypass]] two months earlier but had been doing well.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2025 |title='Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo' Legend Dead At 77 |url=https://www.tmz.com/2025/05/27/guitarist-rick-derringer-dead-music-icon |access-date=May 27, 2025 |website=TMZ.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Rick Derringer===
'''Studio albums'''
{{div col}}
* ''[[All American Boy (Rick Derringer album)|All American Boy]]'' (1973) – US No. 25, AUS No. 38<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=88}}</ref>
* ''Spring Fever'' (1975) – US No. 141
* ''Guitars and Women'' (1979, re-released 1998)
* ''Face to Face'' (1980)
* ''Good Dirty Fun'' (1983)
* ''Back to the Blues'' (1993)
* ''Electra Blues'' (1994)
* ''Tend the Fire'' (1997)
* ''Blues Deluxe'' (1998)
* ''Jackhammer Blues'' (2000)
* ''Free Ride'' (2002)
* ''Rockin' American'' (2007)
* ''Knighted by the Blues'' (2009)
* ''The Three Kings of the Blues'' (2010)
* ''High City'' (2014)
{{div col end}}

'''Live albums'''
* ''King Biscuit Flower Hour'', Rick Derringer & Friends (1998)
* ''Live in Japan'' (1998)

'''Compilation albums'''
* ''Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo: The Best of Rick Derringer'' (1996)
* ''Collection: The Blues Bureau Years'' (2006)
* ''Joy Ride: Solo Albums 1973–1980'' (2017)
* ''Complete Blue Sky Albums: 1976–1978'' (2017)

=== Edgar Winter's White Trash ===
* ''[[Edgar Winter's White Trash (album)|Edgar Winter's White Trash]]'' (1971) – With Johnny Winter 
* ''[[Roadwork (album)|Roadwork]]'' (1972)

=== Edgar Winter ===
* ''[[Jasmine Nightdreams]]'' (1975) – With Johnny Winter

=== Johnny and Edgar Winter ===
* ''[[Together (Johnny and Edgar Winter album)|Together]]'' (1976)

=== Dick Glass Featuring Rick Derringer and the McCoys ===
* ''The Glass Derringer'' (1976)

=== With Edgar Winter, [[Ian Hunter (singer)|Ian Hunter]], [[Dr. John]], [[Lorna Luft]], [[Hall and Oates]] ===
* ''Live at Cheney Hall'' (2006)
* ''Rock Spectacular: Live at the Ritz 1982'' (2010)

=== As a member of a band ===
=== The McCoys ===
– Formed in 1965 by Richard Zehringer on guitar and vocals, Dennis Kelly on bass (who would be replaced by [[Randy Jo Hobbs]]) and Randy Zehringer on drums.
* ''[[Hang On Sloopy (album)|Hang On Sloopy]]'' (1965)
* ''You Make Me Feel So Good'' (1966)
* ''Infinite McCoys'' (1968)
* ''Human Ball'' (1969)

=== Johnny Winter And ===
* ''[[Johnny Winter And]]'' (1970)
* ''[[Live Johnny Winter And]]'' (1971)

=== The Edgar Winter Group ===
* ''[[They Only Come Out at Night]]'' (1972) – Epic
* ''[[Shock Treatment (Edgar Winter album)|Shock Treatment]]'' (1974) – Epic
* ''The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer'' (1975) – Epic
* ''The Edgar Winter Group with Rick Derringer – Live in Japan'' (1990) – Cypress

=== Derringer ===
; Studio albums :
* 1976: ''[[Derringer (album)|Derringer]]''
* 1977: ''Sweet Evil''
* 1978: ''If I Weren't So Romantic I'd Shoot You'' – Dan Hartman plays piano, organ, and rhythm guitar on 6 songs.

; Live albums :
* 1976: ''Live in Cleveland''
* 1977: ''Derringer Live''

; Compilation :
* 1996: ''Required Rocking''

=== DNA ===
(duo project with [[Carmine Appice]])
* 1983: ''Party Tested''

=== Derringer, Bogert & Appice ===
(trio with [[Tim Bogert]] and [[Carmine Appice]])
* 2001: ''Doin' Business As...''

=== The Derringers ===
*Not to be confused with the Derringer group, this band, The Derringers, was a family project bringing together Rick Derringer himself, his wife Brenda Jean, and their two children towards religious music. Four albums were produced under this name:*
* 2001: ''Aiming 4 Heaven''
* 2001: ''Derringer X 2''
* 2004: ''Winter Wonderland''
* 2008: ''We Live''

=== Collaborations ===
* ''[[Alarm Clock (album)|Alarm Clock]]'' by [[Richie Havens]] (1970) – Guitar
* ''[[Countdown to Ecstasy]]'' by [[Steely Dan]] (1973) – Slide guitar on ''Show Biz Kids''
* ''[[Thomas Jefferson Kaye]]'' by Thomas Jefferson Kaye (1973) – Acoustic and electric guitar
* ''[[Still Alive and Well]]'' by [[Johnny Winter]] (1973) – Guitar on ''Cheap Tequila'' and ''Still Alive and Well''; slide guitar on ''Silver Train''; pedal steel on ''Ain't Nothing to Me''
* ''First Grade'' by Thomas Jefferson Kaye (1974) – Acoustic, electric, and slide guitar
* ''[[Katy Lied]]'' by [[Steely Dan]] (1975) – Solo on ''Chain Lightning''
* ''[[Images (Dan Hartman album)|Images]]'' by [[Dan Hartman]] (1976) – Rhythm guitar and solo on ''Thank You for the Good Times''
* ''[[Songs for the New Depression]]'' by [[Bette Midler]] (1976) – Pedal steel on ''Let Me Just Follow Behind''
* ''[[Gaucho (album)|Gaucho]]'' by [[Steely Dan]] (1980) – Guitar on ''My Rival''
* ''Schwartz'' by [[Eddie Schwartz]] (1980) – Guitar
* ''Connections'' by [[Richie Havens]] (1980) – Guitar
* ''[[The Nightfly]]'' by [[Donald Fagen]] (1982) – Guitar
* ''Eye to Eye'' by [[Eye to Eye (band)|Eye to Eye]] (1982) – Guitar
* ''[[Lick It Up]]'' by [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] (1983) – Guitar solo on ''Exciter''
* ''[[Faster Than the Speed of Night]]'' by [[Bonnie Tyler]] (1983) – Guitar
* ''[[Emotion (Barbra Streisand album)|Emotion]]'' by [[Barbra Streisand]] (1984) – Guitar
* ''[[Public Life]]'' by [[Eddie Schwartz]] (1984) – Solo guitar
* ''Come See About Me'' by [[Neil Sedaka]] (1984) – Guitar on ''Cathy's Clown''
* ''[[True Colors (Cyndi Lauper album)|True Colors]]'' by [[Cyndi Lauper]] (1986) – Guitar on ''Calm Inside the Storm'' and ''The Faraway Nearby''
* ''[[Zazu (album)|Zazu]]'' by [[Rosie Vela]] (1986) – Guitar
* ''Blind to Reason'' by [[Grayson Hugh]] (1988) – Electric guitar on ''Romantic Heart'', ''Tears of Love'', and ''Empty as the Wind''
* ''[[A Night to Remember (Cyndi Lauper album)|A Night to Remember]]'' by [[Cyndi Lauper]] (1989) – Guitar
* ''[[A New Day Yesterday (Joe Bonamassa album)|A New Day Yesterday]]'' by [[Joe Bonamassa]] (2000) – Vocals and guitar solo on ''Nuthin' I Wouldn't Do (For a Woman Like You)''
* ''Winter Blues'' by [[Edgar Winter]] (2009) – Rhythm guitar on ''New Millennium'' and ''On the Tip of My Tongue''; guitar on ''White Man's Blues''
* ''[[10x10 (Ronnie Montrose album)|10x10]]'' by [[Ronnie Montrose]] (2017) – Guitar on "Love Is An Art" with Edgar Winter
* ''[[Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues]]'' by Myles Goodwyn  (2018) - guitar solo on "Last Time I'll Ever Sing The Blues"
* ''[[1000 Hands: Chapter One]]'' by [[Jon Anderson]] (2019) – Guitar

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [https://rickderringer.com/ Official website]
* [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rick-derringer-mn0000301404/biography Rick Derringer biography by Bruce Eder, discography and album reviews, credits & releases] at [[AllMusic]]
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/168059-Rick-Derringer?limit=500&page=1 Rick Derringer discography, album releases & credits] at [[Discogs]]
* {{Discogs artist|Derringer (2)|Derringer}} (Rick Derringer's band)
* {{IMDb name|0220618}}
* [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1FX4aA0cUcWndv39j1YoTm Rick Derringer albums to be listened to] on [[Spotify]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/officialderringer Rick Derringer songs & albums to be listened to] on YouTube

{{Edgar Winter}}
{{Johnny Winter}}
{{"Weird Al" Yankovic}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derringer, Rick}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century evangelicals]]
[[Category:21st-century evangelicals]]
[[Category:American blues mandolinists]]
[[Category:American evangelicals]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American performers of Christian music]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Blue Sky Records artists]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Celina, Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Fort Recovery, Ohio]]
[[Category:Provogue Records artists]]
[[Category:Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band members]]
[[Category:The McCoys members]]
[[Category:Edgar Winter's White Trash members]]
[[Category:Edgar Winter Group members]]