Rick Derringer, who had a hit with 'Hang On Sloopy' and produced 'Weird Al,' dies at 77
Source: Associated Press
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 2:59 PM EDT, May 27, 2025
Guitarist and singer Rick Derringer, who shot to fame at 17 when his band The McCoys recorded “Hang On Sloopy,” had a hit with “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” and earned a Grammy Award for producing “Weird Al” Yankovic’s debut album, has died. He was 77.
Derringer died Monday in in Ormond Beach, Florida, according to a Facebook announcement from his caretaker, Tony Wilson. No cause of death was announced.
Derringer’s decades in the music industry spanned teen stardom, session work for bands like Steely Dan, supplying the guitar solo on Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and producing for Cyndi Lauper.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/rick-derringer-dies-2b38685f4c97e7a9882f306628413924
= new reply since forum marked as read
moved to Ft Recovery OH, then to Indiana in the 8th grade.
Ah yes, Western OH home to cornfields and pig farms! 
He said that Al stopped using Rick as his producer, and began producing his own albums, because Rick was slowing down production by showing up at the studio while drunk one too many times.
So I guess that Rick "found" right-wing God a few years later. 
... and thanks for all the great songs!
What can I say, I was like 7 and an avid fan of Peanuts 
I am very aware of their affinity for this song at every 3rd quarter in their football games.
RIP in Rock and Roll heaven Mr. Derringer.
I remember him best for Hulk Hogan's theme song: Real American. Man, that song pumped me up as a kid in the mid-80's. RIP to a Real American. 
