Rick Derringer (born Richard Zehringer , August 5, 1947, in Fort Recovery, Ohio) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for the songs "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and "Real American". Derringer was also "Weird Al" Yankovic's producer and additional guitarist for five years, before rhythm guitarist Jim West became sole guitarist.

RICK DERRINGER TICKETS BTS Tickets Rush Tickets Journey Tickets Shakira Tickets Bryson Tiller Tickets Earth, Wind and Fire Tickets

Life and career

1960s

When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was issued by Bang Records. Because the Zehringer name was often misspelled, he adopted the Derringer stage name which was inspired by the Bang Records logo which featured a derringer pistol. ^[1]

Prior to being the McCoys, the group was first called "The Rick Z Combo", then "Rick and the Raiders", then "Rick and the Ravens".

1970s

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Derringer also recorded and played with a version of Johnny Winter's band called "Johnny Winter And ..." and both Edgar Winter's White Trash and The Edgar Winter Group. Derringer also had a successful solo career, and his solo version of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" was a hit single. He also recorded extensively with Steely Dan, playing lead guitar on songs such as "Show Biz Kids". thumb Along with Judas Priest, Derringer opened for Led Zeppelin on their last American tour. His earliest days had him dressed with skin tight clothing and a flashier appearance. He modified it as he made a name for himself in the music industry.

1980s

Derringer also performed a track for the World Wrestling Federation on The Wrestling Album . "Real American" would later be used as Hulk Hogan's entrance music (and was associated before with the tag team, U.S. Express). ^[2] Derringer also performed the entrance theme for WWF Tag Team Demolition on Piledriver:The Wrestling Album 2 , as well as a duet version of "Rock 'n Roll Hoochie Koo" with Gene Okerlund. ^[3]

In the 1980s, Derringer expanded his producing skills, discovering "Weird Al" Yankovic as well as Mason Ruffner. He also played on the second Silver Condor album on the track "Thank God For Rock and Roll", produced and sung by Joe Cerisano. He has played for "Weird Al" on many of his albums, playing guitar and mandolin. Rick Derringer played guitar on "Exciter" on the album Lick It Up by KISS. There is speculation that he played on other tracks as well.

He co-wrote and sang back-up vocals on "Calm Inside The Storm" on Cyndi Lauper's 1986 True Colors album. He served as one of her tour musicians from 1986 - 1992, prompting him to compare Cyndi to Barbra Streisand: "She's better live than Barbra."

1990s-present

Rick Derringer's Tend The Fire was released in Europe and England (1997), DBA-Derringer, Bogert & Appice (2001).

Free Ride Smooth Jazz (2002) with Jenda Derringer Hall, Rick's wife, singing the title song "Free Ride"and writing the Top Twenty Hit "Hot & Cool", which charted at #16. "Hot & Cool was written by Jenda in 1998.

"Aiming 4 Heaven" launched Derringer's gospel rock career, with wife Jenda and the Derringer's eight and nine year old son and daughter.

The Derringers We Live CD, released in fall of 2008, features Derringer, Jenda, their son Marn, 15, and daughter Loving,16.

Derringer guested on the Tom Guerra project Mambo Sons (1999) and Damon Fowler's Riverview Drive (2000). He also appears on the Les Paul album American Made World Played (2005), on the track "Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl".

Derringer proclaimed his Christianity during this period.

In 2006, he appeared in a Fidelity Investments television commercial.

Derringer appears on Alice Cooper's Killer album, playing the solo on "Under My Wheels."

In 2009, he releases the album Knighted by the Blues and its single, "Sometimes". His band consists of drummer Tom Curiale and bassist Charlie Torres

In other media

"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" is featured in the 1993 film Dazed and Confused , as well as in the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II in 2007.

Discography

Rick Derringer

• All American Boy (1973)
• Spring Fever (1975)
• Guitars and Women (1979)
• Face To Face (1980)
• Good Dirty Fun (1983) When Love Attacks duet with Bonnie Tyler
• Back to the Blues (1993)
• Electra Blues (1994)
• Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo, The Best of Rick Derringer (1996)
• Tend the Fire (Europe only release) (1997)
• King Biscuit Flower Hour (1998)
• Blues Deluxe (1998)
• Live In Japan (1998) (With Edgar Winter)
• Guitars And Women (1998) - CD release with bonus tracks
• Rick Derringer & Friends - Live with Edgar Winter, Ian Hunter (singer), Dr. John, Lorna Luft, Hall and Oates (1998)
• Jackhammer Blues (2000)
• DBA-Derringer, Bogert & Appice- doin' business as... (2001)
• Free Ride (2002)
• Live at Cheney Hall (2006)
• Rockin' American (undated)
• Knighted by the Blues (2009)

Derringer

• Derringer (1976)
• Live In Cleveland (1976)
• Sweet Evil (1977)
• Derringer Live (1977)
• If I Weren't So Romantic I'd Shoot You (1978)
• Required Rocking - Sony Music compilation (1996)

DNA

(duo with Carmine Appice)

• Party Tested (1983)

References

1. http://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/rick_derringer/rock_and_roll_hoochie_koo__the_best_of_rick_der
2. WWF/E Wrestling Theme Count and Title Names
3. Wrestling Music Albums