Age, Biography, and Wiki
Rick Derringer was born on August 5, 1947, as Richard Zehringer in Celina, Ohio. He rose to fame at 17 with The McCoys' hit "Hang On Sloopy" in 1965. Derringer collaborated with notable artists like Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, and Alice Cooper, and produced Grammy-winning work with "Weird Al" Yankovic. He passed away on May 26, 2025, at the age of 77.
| Occupation | Songwriter |
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| Date of Birth | August 5, 1947 |
| Age | 78 Years |
| Birth Place | Celina, Ohio, U.S. |
| Horoscope | |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 26 May, 2025 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Height, Weight, and Measurements
Information regarding Rick Derringer's height, weight, and measurements is not widely documented in available sources.
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Dating & Relationship Status
Rick Derringer was married twice. Detailed information about his marriages is limited, but his personal life was marked by both musical success and financial challenges.
Derringer, who grew up in Fort Recovery, Ohio, was the son of John Otto and Janice Lavine (Thornburg) Zehringer. John Zehringer was a section foreman on the Nickel Plate Railroad. According to Derringer, aside from his parents' extensive record collection, his first major influence was his uncle Jim Thornburg, a popular guitarist and singer in Ohio. Derringer recalled first hearing him play guitar in the kitchen of his parents' home and knowing immediately that he wanted to learn the instrument. He was eight years old at the time, and his parents gave him his first electric guitar for his ninth birthday. Soon after, he and his brother Randy began playing music together.
In 1983, Derringer also wrote "Shake Me" for his Good Dirty Fun solo album, accompanied by a video produced by Jake Hooker, the husband of Lorna Luft. Singer Lourett Russell Grant appeared in the video alongside Derringer.
In 2001, Derringer, his wife, and their children released the first two of four Christian music albums, all through Panda Studio Productions: Aiming 4 Heaven (2001), Derringer X 2 (2001), the holiday album Winter Wonderland (2004), and We Live (2008). In 2002, Derringer was featured in Dan Muise's book Gallagher, Marriott, Derringer & Trower – Their Lives and Music.
Derringer died in Ormond Beach, Florida on May 26, 2025, at the age of 77. According to TMZ, Derringer's wife, Jenda Derringer, said he "died peacefully after being taken off life support Monday night following a medical episode"; his caretaker and close friend, Tony Wilson, said Derringer had undergone a triple bypass two months earlier but had been doing well.
* Not to be confused with the Derringer group, this band, The Derringers, was a family project bringing together Rick Derringer himself, his wife Brenda Jean, and their two children towards religious music. Four albums were produced under this name:*
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Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 2025, Rick Derringer's net worth was estimated at $500,000. His earnings came from music sales, touring, and production credits. Despite his significant contributions to the music industry, Derringer faced financial difficulties, including multiple foreclosures following the 2008 economic crisis.
Derringer played guitar on "My Rival" from Steely Dan's Gaucho (1980) and also contributed to Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly (1982). In 1983, he played guitar on two hit power ballads written and produced by Jim Steinman: Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart". Derringer said his guitar solo in "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" was his favorite of all the solos he had recorded. That same year, he recorded guitar parts for Meat Loaf's poorly received album Midnight at the Lost and Found. Both "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" were originally offered to Meat Loaf by Steinman for that album, but Meat Loaf's record company refused to pay Steinman for the compositions.
In 2017, Derringer was charged with carrying a loaded gun on a Delta Air Lines flight from Cancún in Mexico to Atlanta, Georgia. According to his manager, Derringer believed he was permitted to carry the gun due to his possession of a valid Florida concealed weapon permit. Derringer later pleaded guilty, agreeing to pay a $1,000 fine.
Career, Business, and Investments
Derringer's career was marked by his early success with The McCoys and his solo work, including the hit "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo." He was a versatile artist who worked with various musicians across genres. His production credits included successful collaborations with artists like "Weird Al" Yankovic. Despite his financial struggles, Derringer remained active in the music industry until his death.
Rick Derringer (born Richard Dean Zehringer; August 5, 1947 – May 26, 2025) was an American musician, producer and songwriter. He gained success in the 1960s with his band, the McCoys. Their debut single, "Hang On Sloopy", became a number-one hit in 1965 and is now regarded as a classic track from the garage rock era. The McCoys had seven songs chart in the top 100, including covers of "Fever" and "Come On, Let's Go". After releasing All American Boy, Derringer established a career as a solo artist.
In 2001, Derringer, Tim Bogert, and Carmine Appice released the album Derringer, Bogert & Appice (DBA): Doin' Business as... on the German record label Steamhammer Records. Derringer had previously worked with Appice on an album, Party Tested by DNA (Derringer'n'Appice), and it was re-released in 2011.
Social Network
There is limited information available about Rick Derringer's presence on social media platforms during his lifetime. However, his legacy continues to be celebrated by fans and fellow musicians on various platforms.
Education
Detailed information about Rick Derringer's formal education is not widely available. He began his music career early, forming The McCoys while still in school.
In summary, Rick Derringer's life was a testament to his enduring impact on rock music, despite the financial challenges he faced. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of musicians and fans alike.
In 1973, Derringer found further success with his song "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo". He also worked extensively with brothers Edgar and Johnny Winter, playing lead and rhythm guitar in their bands and producing all of their gold and platinum records, including Edgar Winter's hits "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride" (both in 1973). Derringer also collaborated with Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, and "Weird Al" Yankovic, producing Yankovic's Grammy Award-winning songs "Eat It" (1984) and "Fat" (1988). He also produced the World Wrestling Federation's album The Wrestling Album (1985) and its follow-up, Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II (1987). Those albums featured Hulk Hogan's entrance song, "Real American" initially the theme song of the tag team U.S. Express) and the Demolition tag team's theme, "Demolition". Derringer also produced three songs on the soundtrack of the 1984 Tom Hanks film Bachelor Party.
