Rick Derringer, the legendary guitar player who participated in way more records than you probably imagined, died this week. He was 77.
The Ohio native first found success at just 16 years-old when his band, The McCoys, covered "Hang On Sloopy" (sometimes called "My Girl Sloopy) which went straight to #1 in 1965.
The teens followed it up with two more covers that also made it to the Top 25.
That year they covered Little Willie John's "Fever" to #7, though you probably haven't heard their version anywhere near as much as you've heard Peggy Lee's. The following year they took Richie Valens' "Come On, Let's Go," to #22.
One thing all the songs had, poppy as they were, were dynamite guitar solos. They were crisp, confident, and fun.
In 1970, the albino blues legend Johnny Winter was so impressed with Derringer, he named his album Johnny Winter And which was a sly way of declaring his new backing band were the McCoys... thus it was Johnny Winter And The McCoys.
The hit on that first Johnny Winter And album was a tune Rick wrote, "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo," which would become a classic rock staple you may have heard on the Dazed and Confused Soundtrack.
Johnny's brother Edgar called him on stage in '73 to play the track on The Midnight Special TV show. It would be Derringer's most-played tune live, according to our records.
When Ringo Starr recruited Derringer to be part of his All Starr Band, the Beatle generously gave the guitarist nearly eight minutes to jam on the scorching rocker.
Ringo's All Starr Band played the tune 70 times in concert.
When he wasn't playing with the Winter brothers, he was producing them.
He was on the dials for: Live Johnny Winter And (1971), Edgar Winter’s They Only Come Out at Night (1972), Johnny Winter’s Still Alive and Well (1973), Edgar Winter’s Shock Treatment (1974), Johnny Winter’s Saints & Sinners (1974), Edgar Winter’s Jasmine Nightdreams (1975), andThe Edgar Winter Album (1979).
One of the first hits Derringer helped Edgar create was "Free Ride," which made it's way on the Even More Dazed and Confused album decades later in 1994.
Because life is crazy, all throughout the 1980s Derringer produced Weird Al's albums until the accordionist started producing himself: "Weird Al" Yankovic (1983), In 3-D (1984), Dare to Be Stupid (1985), Polka Party! (1986), Even Worse (1988), and UHF – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff (1989).
Thanks to Yankovic, Rick was awarded his sole Grammy for Best Comedy Recording for the song "Eat It" from the In 3-D album.
Pop star Cyndi Lauper also utilized Derringer's talents in the 1980s.
For her sophomore 1986 LP True Colors, Cyndi and Rick co-wrote "Calm Inside the Storm" together where he also plays guitar. He also shredded on "The Faraway Nearby." Then he joined her on the True Colors World Tour as her guitarist.
While they never did "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo" on that tour, they did perform "My Girl Sloopy" seven times.
A talented session player capable of blues, rock, and even jazz, Derringer performed on three Steely Dan albums.
He played slide guitar on “Show Biz Kids” from Countdown to Ecstasy (1973), provided the guitar solo on “Chain Lightning” from Katy Lied (1975), and contributed guitar to “My Rival” on Gaucho (1980).
He also played lead guitar on the lead single of Barbra Streisand’s “Left in the Dark” from Emotion (1984), contributed guitar to Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” from Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983), shredded the guitar solo on Air Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” (1983), quietly rocked the guitar solo on KISS’s “Exciter” from Lick It Up (1983).
Derringer also performed live with Peter Frampton in the 1970s and most recently in 2013 during Frampton's Guitar Circus Tour, which featured various legendary axe-wielders.
Frampton has nine shows ahead of him in June. Don't be too surprised if he covers one of his old buddy's tunes as tours the States. Get your tickets on Peter's website.
June 13 – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, WA
June 15 – Hayden Homes Amphitheater, Bend, OR
June 17 – Idaho Central Arena, Boise, ID
June 19 – Silver Legacy Casino, Reno, NV
June 21 – The Event at Graton Resort & Casino, Rohnert Park, CA
June 23 – Yaamava' Theater, Highland, CA
June 25 – Arizona Financial Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
June 27 – Isleta Resort & Casino, Albuquerque, NM
June 29 – Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, NV
