Rick Derringer

Rick Derringer (born Richard Zehringer, 5 August, 1947, in Fort Recovery, Ohio) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for the song "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo". Rick was also "Weird Al" Yankovic's Lead guitarist for five years, before being replaced by Jim West.

Life and career

When he was just 17, 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.

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".

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. 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.

In the 1980s, Derringer expanded his producing skills, discovering "Weird Al" Yankovic as well as Mason Ruffner.

He has played for "Weird Al" on many of his albums, playing guitar and mandolin.

Recent releases include Tend The Fire (1997), DBA-Derringer, Bogert & Appice (2001), and Free Ride Smooth Jazz (2002). He also guested on the Tom Guerra project Mambo Sons CD (1999) and Damon Fowler's Riverview Drive (2000).

Rick continues to perform and record, with varying musical line-ups, in the rock and roll, smooth jazz, and Christian rock genres.

Derringer also appears on the Les Paul album American Made World Played (2005) on the track "Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl."

Official Rick Derringer Websites

• The Official Rick Derringer site
• Rick Derringer Official MySpace Site

Trivia

• The Steely Dan song "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is supposedly based on a conversation with Rick.
• In 2006, he appeared in a Fidelity Investments TV commercial.
• Along with Judas Priest, Derringer opened for Led Zeppelin at Zeppelin's last American tour.
• The song "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.
• Played guitar on "Exciter" by KISS. There's speculation that he played on another or other tracks as well.

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)
• 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

Derringer

• Derringer (1975)
• 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)