Rick Derringer, a guitar virtuoso who helped provide the soundtrack to the excesses of 1970s rock ‘n’ roll, has died. He was 77.
Derringer’s death was confirmed by his wife, Jenda, who said that his heart gave out after a medical episode. She confirmed he died “peacefully” in his sleep after receiving unsuccessful treatment.
Life support was removed on Monday night, and he passed away at the area hospital in Ormond Beach, Florida, his confidant and caretaker, Tony Wilson, added.
“We thought we had years left but God’s timing is perfect,” Jenda told TMZ.
Wilson told the outlet that Derringer had undergone triple bypass surgery two months earlier, and those around him thought the guitarist to be doing well.
Unexpectedly, Derringer’s health quickly deteriorated after he tried to lie down, Wilson went on, saying his friend reached for a pillow and went into some kind of shock.
Jendra credited her late husband for being “so positive and peaceful” in the face of his troubled health later in life.
Born Aug. 5, 1947, Derringer rose to prominence on the back of “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” his 1973 hit single that became an anthem on rock radio stations for most of the decade. Prior to his breakout solo act, he served as frontman for The McCoys, who struck gold with the 1965 number-one hit “Hang on Sloopy.”
Over the subsequent decades, Derring collaborated with the likes of Steely Dan, Kiss, Cyndi Lauper, Alice Cooper, Weird Al, and Barbra Streisand. He also laid down his legendary guitar skills on tracks with Air Supply and Meat Loaf, according to the Daily Caller.
His patriotic grooves on “Real American” cultivated repeated use by both Republican and Democratic politicians at their rallies, including Donald Trump and Barack Obama. Derringer also became a commodity in the world of professional wrestling after signing with Hulk Hogan to provide his entrance music at each show.
Later in life, Derringer converted to evangelical Christianity and became a celebrity contributor for conservative causes. He previously appeared on Alex Jones’s podcast, where he explained to Roger Stone why he decided to support President Trump.
“I am a ‘Jesus Freak,’ and I hope that I can take all of you with me,” he said about his faith in a 2012 interview.
Tributes from other musicians poured out across social media on Wednesday.
“Rest in Peace my friend. It was an honor to know you, work with you and call you a friend,” guitarist Joe Bonamassa wrote, sharing a candid photo of Derringer on stage in his youth.In addition to his wife Jenda, Derringer is survived by their daughter and his only child, Mallory Derringer.
