But the guitarist’s fortunes rebounded quickly — with the McCoys, he teamed with rising blues star Johnny Winter. “That was the start of what really became my destiny,” Derringer says.

The Ohio guitarist was one of rock’s most adaptable talents and had the production skills to go with his playing ...

Derringer —whose work touched the careers of Johnny and Edgar Winter, Steely Dan, Neil Giraldo and "Weird Al" Yankovic —passed away May 26 ...

From there, Derringer went on to an array of successful collaborations with luminaries that ranged from Johnny and Edgar Winter to Steely Dan, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Weird Al Yankovic, Cyndi Lauper ...

I played all the guitar on 'Hang On Sloopy,' including the solo. That was one take." By the end of the decade, the McCoys’ career came to a close, and Rick Zehringer became Rick Derringer.