(WKBN) – A longtime singer and songwriter over the past 60 years with connections to The Ohio State University and WWE has died, according to multiple reports, including Variety.
Ohio native Rick Derringer, 77, has died.
Derringer became famous as a member of The McCoys. In 1965, the band recorded their number-one hit single, “Hang on Sloopy.” The song is played at Ohio State football games and athletic events. Derringer also wrote the 1970s classic rock hit “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.”
According to Derringer’s website, he collaborated with several different artists in the 1970s and 1980s, including Alice Cooper, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, Kiss and Weird Al Yankovic.
Derringer also collaborated on the song “Real American,” the WWE theme song used for professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, as well as with the WWE for the theme song for the professional wrestling tag team Demolition.
Variety states that no cause of for Derringer was given, but said that he had been ill in recent months.
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