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Guitar World
Guitar World
Entertainment
Andy Aledort

“Duane Allman told me he was inspired to pick up slide guitar because he saw me playing with the McCoys. That blows my mind”: The life and times of Rick Derringer, the all-American guitar hero

Rick Derringer plays his B.C. Rich Mockingbird live onstage in an outdoor festival appearance at a Day On The Green at Oakland Stadium, 1977.

Rick Derringer, long revered as one of rock’s greatest guitarists, passed away at age 77 on May 26 at his home in Ormond Beach, Florida. Derringer first came to national prominence via the 1965 hit Hang On Sloopy, which he recorded with his band, the McCoys. It was released just as he was turning 17.

Thus began a long and storied career that found him working as a multi-instrumentalist on guitar, pedal steel and bass, and as a successful producer. The long list of artists he recorded with or produced includes Johnny and Edgar Winter, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Kiss, Cyndi Lauper, Barbara Streisand, Alice Cooper and Air Supply.

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