Rick Derringer 5/26/25, Memorial Day

[Joe Buczek]

RIP Rick Derringer, songwriter of "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and solo guitar on Steely Dan's "Chain Lightening".

https://www.tmz.com/2025/05/27/guitaris ... usic-icon/

[Jeff Harbour]

Thanks for posting. "Rock 'N' Roll Hoochie Coo" was a very important set of licks in my early days of learning to play guitar.

I find it even more impressive that he stepped out of the spotlight and made even more magic behind the scenes as a session player and producer.

His catalog is quite massive.

[Dave Zirbel]

RIP Rick.

Some of you may not know that Rick also played and recorded pedal steel.

Here’s one sample:
https://youtu.be/q7DlkWnwCO8

[Joachim Kettner]

Rip Mr.Derringer, I was shocked to read this a few days ago. He was so versatile. Here he is on Becker/Fagen song Steely Dan never recorded:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHsZ2W5ms7E

[Ross Shafer]

One of my very first favorite songs on the radio was Hang on Sloopy. A radio hit by the McCoys a band with Rick and His brother. rich was a whoppin' 17 years old. That's a long music career! RIP Rick Derringer!

[Ron Pruter]

I remember Rick produced an album for the WWF. (Wrestling) I think Cindy Lauper and her father were involved. Rick made me laugh when he said on TV, "This is the best wrestling album I've ever done".

[Eric Dahlhoff]

Rick Derringer made a lot of great music. He was a big influence on me learning guitar in high school, especially his work with Johnny & Egar Winter. I was clueless about pedal steel, but loved "Ain't Nothin' to Me". It wasn't until I pulled out JW's "Still Alive & Well" album last year that I realized it was Rick playing pedal steel. RIP Rick, and thanks for the music!!!

[Chris Templeton]

My Sho~Bud Pro-II came from Rick.
I was in NYC, in 1981, and the woman I was with knew his wife at the time, Lizzie Derringer, and we went to their house and I left with his steel.
Rick played at the Lone Star Cafe that night, which usually had only country acts., Rick's equipment truck was stolen after the gig.
He played steel some, with Johnny and Edgar Winter and was in various groups with them. and had a hit with "Hang On Sloopy" when he was 18.
That steel went to Mike Cass.
Here's his hit, "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YdBsF8sagQ

[Craig Stock]

So was he mad that you got his steel? or had he given up? I remember you telling me the story but forgot the reason.

[Chris Templeton]

Craig, I didn't see Rick the next day. Yes, mad, I'm sure about the gear. He didn't ask for it back, if that's what you mean.

[Joe Buczek]

Some of you may not know that Rick also played and recorded pedal steel.

Thanks for this, Dave! I never knew he played steel! Very cool.

[Dave Mudgett]

Always liked Rick, and thought he was under-rated. Saw him in 1970 on Johnny Winter And tour at the Boston Tea Party. He and Johnny each had a pyramid of cranked blackface Twin Reverbs behind them, can you say LOUD, lol. Saw him a few years later, forget the context - it was with a different band. Always finding the right parts to add, always tasty. RIP Rick.