Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo

Rick Derringer picked up his first electric guitar at nine, inspired by Buddy Holly and the surge of energy coming from the British Invasion. By the time he was 17, he already had a number one hit with “Hang On Sloopy,” and he hardly stopped to take it in. 

From there, he never stayed in one lane for long. Guitarist, producer, songwriter, go to session player, he did it all. He helped drive gold and platinum records with the Winter brothers, picked up Grammys producing Weird Al Yankovic, and showed up on sessions for artists ranging from Alice Cooper to Steely Dan.

What defines him isn’t a single hit or era. It’s the momentum. Derringer kept chasing the next sound, the next session, the next spark, always in motion, always in the music.