About
Rick Derringer built his reputation as one of rock's most versatile guitarists long before he ever went solo. He first turned heads as the teenage lead voice behind the McCoys, scoring a massive 1965 hit with 'Hang On Sloopy' before the band faded from the spotlight. Derringer regrouped brilliantly in the early 70s, joining forces with Edgar and Johnny Winter, co-producing and playing on some of Johnny Winter's finest work and earning serious credibility in blues-rock circles.
His solo debut, 'All American Boy' in 1973, remains his signature statement, powered by the irresistible 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,' a track he originally wrote for Johnny Winter. That song alone cemented his legacy. His style blended hard rock swagger with blues sensibility and pop hooks, a combination that made him equally at home on FM radio and in the company of serious guitar aficionados. Later in the decade he fronted Derringer, releasing a handful of punchy hard rock records that kept his name relevant through the late 70s.
Derringer also became one of the most in-demand session players and producers of his era, working with everyone from Cyndi Lauper to Steely Dan. He never quite broke through to arena-headliner status, but among guitarists and rock historians, his contributions are considered essential listening. He is the kind of artist that other musicians cite when asked who really understood how to make a guitar sing.
