Young guitar great, vocalist and entertainer Rick Derringer was just 16 when his band "The McCoys" recorded the No.1 hit "Hang On Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, knocking "Yesterday" by The Beatles out of the top spot. "The McCoys" had enjoyed four years of successful touring, when Rick merged his talents with Johnny Winter in 1969 forming "Johnny Winter And" ("And" referring to "The McCoys"). Rick was the only producer of all gold and platinum Winter Brothers recordings.

In '71 Rick was featured on three records, "Johnny Winter And", "Johnny Winter And-Live" and "Edgar Winter's White Trash". "And" featured the first version of Derringer's "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" which was also released as a single, then selected again for "And - Live".

Eventually the busy Derringer joined Edgar's White Trash full-time and produced the gold LP, "Roadwork". Derringer's solo album, "All American Boy" was released in '73 with the now already popular "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo", this time as a 'hit' single.

Rick was writer/producer of Johnny Winter's "Still Alive and Well" album and player/producer of the hit album, "They Only Come Out At Night". The latter featured the No. 1, Grammy nominated monster hit, "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride".

In 1976 Rick created the Derringer Band. During the latter half of the seventies Derringer released four albums, Derringer, Sweet Evil, If I Weren't So Romantic I'd Shoot You and Face To Face. In 1983 Rick returned to his solo career with the LP, "Good Dirty Fun."

Throughout the 70's and 80's the popular Derringer appeared on numerous albums with artists Alice Cooper, Richie Havens, Todd Rundgren and Steely Dan. The list also includes Cyndi Lauper, Barbra Streisand, Kiss, Mason Ruffner and Madam X.

In the mid-80's, Derringer discovered Weird Al Yancovic, producing music for Grammy-winning albums and videos. Derringer's productions of the Michael Jackson parodies, the No. 1 hit "Eat It," and "Who's Fat," have been Yancovic's most successful recordings.

Rick was selected to be producer/writer/performer of the World Wrestling Federation LP's. Hulk Hogan's theme song, "I Am A Real American" was written and performed by Rick as a part of these projects.

Derringer was once again sought after by Edgar Winter and in 1990, performed for the LP, "Edgar Winter and Rick Derringer Live in Japan". In the late 1990's many shows found Rick and Edgar on stage together and they joined together for an all-star re-union with the White Trash Horns at 1999's Montreaux Jazz Festival. Also in 1999 Rick then collaborated with Edgar as songwriter/guitarist on his "Winter Blues" CD.

Through the 1990's Rick has recorded a string of highly acclaimed blues releases on Shrapnel Records Blues Bureau International including "Back To the Blues" in 1993 followed by "Electra Blues," "Blues Deluxe" and his 2000 release "Jackhammer Blues."

Derringer's destined-to-be-classic "Tend the Fire" was released in Europe to rave reviews and is eagerly expected by his loyal fans here in the US. Added to "Tend the Fire" will be the Rock anthem, "The Dawn of Love" co-written by Rick and Brenda Hall and produced by superstar producer Bill Szymczyk for the benefit of children suffering under tyranny throughout the world.

Rick believes that "Tend the Fire" might well be the best music, to date, he's recorded.