A rock-and-roll legend behind some of the biggest hits of the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s is dead at age 77.
Rick Derringer died Monday in Ormond Beach, Florida, according to an announcement from his caretaker, Tony Wilson. A cause of death was not immediately made available.
In the early 1970s, Derringer performed at the Tom Jones Bar in Lyons.
Rick Derringer and his band in the early 1970’s at the Tom Jones in Lyons, NY. Photos by Greg Cotterill (with his Kodak flashcube camera)
Derringer first rose to fame as the lead singer of The McCoys, who reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the 1965 song “Hang On Sloopy.”
His big hit was the ’70s “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo”
Derringer additionally performed with Edgar Winter Group, producing their 1972 hit song “Frankenstein,” and recorded with big names like Barbara Streisand, Todd Rundgren, Patti Smith, KISS, Meat Loaf, Air Supply, Bonnie Tyler (“Total Eclipse of the Heart”) and Steely Dan.
