‘Real American’ songwriter, Rick Derringer, dead at 77
After a career of massive hits and collaborations with rock and roll icons, classic rock guitarist and songwriter Rick Derringer has passed away at the age of 77.
Derringer had been known for being a session guitarist and a legend behind the scenes before lighting up the rock and roll circuit in the 1970s with the song ‘Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo’, having turned in time working with everyone from Steely Dan to Barbara Streisand.
The announcement of his death was made by his caretaker, Tony Wilson, who posted on Facebook the short tribute, “R.I.P. RICK DERRINGER LEGENDARY GUITARIST ENTERTAINER PRODUCER WRITER – HANG ON SLOOPY ROCK AND ROLL HOOCHIE KOO – REAL AMERICAN – RICK THE YACHT RICK AND JENDA DERRINGER YOU WILL BE MISSED GREATLY.”
Prior to becoming an icon for rock and roll guitarists, Derringer began his career in the band The McCoys, which scored their major hit in the 1960s with ‘Hang on Sloopy’. After going solo, the guitarist would also end up doing an updated version of his song.
Aside from being a fixture of rock and roll, he worked as a band member in the Edgar Winter Group and had various guest spots opening for people like Van Halen. However, Derringer’s major credits in his latter career had to do with what he was doing behind the scenes.
In addition to producing his own work, he ended up serving as the guitarist on two Steely Dan classics from their early career and remained a member of Johnny Winter’s band as well, who would sing the first-ever version of ‘Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo’ before Derringer’s version in 1973. He also served as the producer for many of Weird Al Yankovic’s albums.
Despite not seeing any major hits during his solo career past the 1970s, Derringer also remained a fixture in the world of wrestling in the latter half of his career, writing the song ‘Real American’ as the theme song for Hulk Hogan.
The track would go on to be used as a theme song for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump in their subsequent political races.
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