Rick Derringer, the teenage singer and guitarist who fronted The McCoys on their 1965 hit “Hang on Sloopy,” died May 26, 2025, at 77. His career continued for decades as a solo artist, session guitarist, producer and collaborator—including work with Weird Al Yankovic and the performance of “Real American,” later known as Hulk Hogan’s theme.
Who was Rick Derringer?
Born Richard Dean Zehringer in Celina, Ohio, on August 5, 1947, Derringer grew up in Ohio and Indiana. His family moved to Union City, Indiana, where he began playing in a band in 1962. His performing name, Rick Derringer, grew out of his birth name. His first major success came as a teenager with The McCoys. The Guardian’s 2025 obituary traces his path from those early groups to a long career as a guitarist and producer.
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Who sang “Hang on Sloopy”?
Derringer sang lead on The McCoys’ recording of “Hang on Sloopy,” which reached No. 1 in the United States in 1965 and No. 5 in the United Kingdom, according to The Guardian. The band began as Rick and the Raiders, formed by Derringer, his brother Randy and Dennis Kelly, before personnel changes and a new name.
The McCoys did not write the song: Wes Farrell and Bert Berns did. The Vibrations had recorded it before The McCoys’ hit version. Derringer’s early fame was sudden. Recalling the experience in a 1993 interview reproduced by The Washington Post, he said: “It was fantastic. What teenager could ask for more than to have the top record in the world, girls screaming and pulling your clothes off everywhere you go?”
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What did Rick Derringer do after “Hang on Sloopy”?
From The McCoys to the Winter brothers
After The McCoys disbanded in 1969, Derringer worked with Johnny Winter and Edgar Winter, contributing guitar and production work. This period helped establish him beyond his identity as the young frontman of a hit-making band.
A solo career and signature song
Derringer’s first solo album, All American Boy, came out in 1973 and included “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.” The single peaked at No. 23 on the US chart, as reported by The Guardian and The Washington Post. It became his signature solo song.
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Session guitar, production and collaborations
Derringer also worked as a session guitarist and collaborator with artists including Alice Cooper, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Bonnie Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, Air Supply, Kiss and Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, according to The Guardian and the Associated Press.
Weird Al Yankovic and “Real American”
Derringer produced the first six Weird Al Yankovic albums, and played guitar on early recordings, including the solo on “Eat It,” Yankovic said in a statement reported by the AP. Derringer also co-wrote and performed “Real American,” first included on the WWF’s The Wrestling Album in 1985; it later became associated with Hulk Hogan. These credits show how his work extended from rock records into comedy and professional wrestling.
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How did Rick Derringer die?
Derringer died in Ormond Beach, Florida, on May 26, 2025, aged 77. The AP reported that no cause of death was announced. The Washington Post, attributing information to his wife, reported that he had declining health after triple bypass surgery in February and had diabetes; those details do not establish a cause of death.
Derringer’s work reached listeners through far more than a single hit: The McCoys’ chart-topping recording, his own solo material, collaborations across rock and pop, production for Yankovic, and the enduring wrestling anthem. The AP reported Yankovic’s tribute: “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.”
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