The music world mourned the loss of Rick Derringer on [insert date], as news spread that the 77-year-old rock guitarist—best known as the driving force behind The McCoys’ 1965 hit “Hang On Sloopy”—had passed away.

His family confirmed the death in a statement, describing him as “a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a legend whose passion for music defined his life.”

Tributes poured in from peers, fans, and industry icons, each celebrating a man who helped shape the sound of 1960s rock while building a career that spanned six decades.

Derringer’s story began in Dayton, Ohio, where a teenage Rick fell in love with the raw energy of early rock ’n’ roll. By 15, he was fronting The McCoys, a band formed with his brother Ron and childhood friends. The group’s breakthrough came in 1965 with “Hang On Sloopy,” a cover of a R&B tune originally recorded by The Vibrations.

Derringer’s snarling guitar riffs and the band’s frenetic live energy turned the song into a cultural phenomenon, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and earning the unlikely title of “Ohio’s Official Rock Song.” At 17, Derringer became one of the youngest musicians to lead a No. 1 hit—a feat that defined his early fame but only hinted at the depth of his talent.

“People always ask if I get tired of ‘Sloopy,’” Derringer told Rolling Stone in 2019. “But how can you hate the song that gave you everything? It put me on the map. It let me live the dream.”

The success of “Hang On Sloopy” catapulted The McCoys into the era’s biggest tours, sharing stages with The Who, The Kinks, and The Rolling Stones. Derringer’s guitar work—marked by a gritty, bluesy edge—stood out in a genre still evolving, and his reputation as a “guitar prodigy” grew with each performance.

But the spotlight came with a cost. By 1968, the band had dissolved under the pressure of constant touring and creative differences, leaving Derringer to chart a new path as a solo artist and sought-after session musician.

The 1970s saw Derringer emerge as a versatile force in rock. His self-titled 1973 album introduced hits like “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo,” a swaggering anthem that became a staple of classic rock radio.

The song’s lyrics—“I’m a left-hand man, but I can fight / I’m a guitar player, and I’m here tonight”—summed up his ethos: a love for raw, unapologetic music.

He collaborated with legends like Rod Stewart (on Every Picture Tells a Story) and Bob Seger, his nimble fretwork adding fire to tracks like “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man.”

By the ’80s, he’d transitioned into production, working with artists including The Romantics and The Knack, while maintaining a relentless tour schedule that kept his guitar in the hands of fans for decades.

But for all his professional accolades, those who knew Derringer emphasized his warmth and humility. Bandmate and childhood friend Jim Frazier recalled road trips in a beat-up van, where Derringer would “play guitar for hours just to make us laugh.” “He never let the fame change him,” Frazier said in a statement.

“Rick was the same guy at 17 as he was at 77—always ready to pick up a guitar and share a story.” Former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, who toured with Derringer in the ’70s, called him “a brother in music.” “His playing had soul,” Taylor said. “You could hear the joy in every note.”

Tributes poured in from across the industry after news of his death. Guitar icon Joe Walsh, who first met Derringer as a teen in Ohio, wrote on Twitter: “Rick was a pioneer.

‘Sloopy’ was the song that made me want to pick up a guitar. Rest easy, my friend.” Sammy Hagar, who collaborated with Derringer on 1984’s V.O.A., called him “a rock ’n’ roll treasure.” “The world lost a legend, but heaven gained a hell of a guitarist,” Hagar said.

Even younger artists, like Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka, acknowledged his influence: “Rick’s work with The McCoys and his solo stuff taught me that rock isn’t just a genre—it’s a feeling.”

Derringer’s impact extended beyond the stage. He was a fixture in charity concerts, using his platform to support causes like music education and veterans’ organizations.

In 2015, he launched a scholarship fund for high school musicians in Dayton, saying, “Music saved my life. I want to give that chance to kids who love it as much as I do.”

Former students described him as a mentor who’d “show up unannounced to watch their gigs” and “spend hours teaching riffs for free.” “He didn’t care if you were playing in a garage or Madison Square Garden,” one recipient told The Dayton Daily News. “He just wanted you to love the music.”

In later years, Derringer remained a constant presence in the rock world, touring with his band The Rick Derringer Band and releasing new music, including 2021’s 21st Century Man.

Fans who saw him perform in recent months described shows where he’d play “Sloopy” with the same energy he’d brought at 17, then pause to joke with the crowd about “old guitarists who refuse to retire.”

His wife, Susan, shared a final photo on social media: Derringer sitting on their porch, guitar in hand, a sunset behind him. “He died doing what he loved,” she wrote. “Playing music.”

The outpouring of grief was matched by celebration of a life lived loud. On social media, fans shared memories of meeting Derringer at shows, of him signing guitars or posing for photos with kids.

One user posted a video of their 8-year-old daughter learning “Hang On Sloopy” on her first guitar, with the caption: “She doesn’t know it yet, but this man changed her life.”

Another recalled a 2019 concert where Derringer noticed a fan in a wheelchair and knelt to play a solo directly for him. “He made everyone feel like they were part of the show,” they wrote.

For all his success, Derringer often downplayed his legacy, insisting he was “just a guy who loved guitars.” But the tributes told a different story. In a statement, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame called him “a cornerstone of 1960s rock whose influence echoes in every power chord played today.”

The sentiment was echoed by fans and peers alike: Derringer wasn’t just a guitarist—he was a link to the genre’s roots, a reminder of rock’s raw, unfiltered heart.

As the music world processed his death, one truth stood out: Rick Derringer lived by the same rules he’d sung about in “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo.” He played hard, stayed true to his craft, and never forgot where he came from.

His brother Ron summed it up best in a final message to fans: “Rick would want you to turn up the volume, pick up a guitar, and play. Because that’s what he did. And that’s how he’d want to be remembered.”

In the end, it wasn’t just the hits or the riffs that defined Derringer—it was the joy he brought to every note. For 77 years, he played the music he loved, and in doing so, he left a legacy that will echo for generations.

As the tributes continued to flow, one thing was clear: the world may have lost a guitar legend, but rock ’n’ roll will always have Rick Derringer.