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Union City Arts Festival
Rick Derringer,
Hang on Sloopy fame, returns to native Union City
Rick Derringer, original member of The McCoy's, will celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the #1 hit song "Hang on Sloopy" September 12th during
the 2nd Annual Union City Arts Festival..
Rick Derringer was just 17 when his band The McCoys TM 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, Derringer joined Edgar Winter'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 the 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. He released four
albums and in '83 returned to his solo career with the LP, Good Dirty
Fun.
Throughout the '70s and '80s 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-80s, Derringer discovered Weird Al Yankovic,
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 Yankovic's most successful recordings.
In the '90s, Rick was selected to be producer/writer/performer of the
World Wrestling Federation LP 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. Then in 1999 Rick and Edgar were back together again for their
collaboration on his Winter Blues CD. Rick also recorded four blues
CD's starting in '93 with Back to the Blues followed by Electra Blues,
Blues Deluxe and his 2000 release Jackhammer Blues. At about that same
period Derringer, who seems to be constantly in motion, released his
destined-to-be-classic Tend the Fire in Europe to rave reviews and was
eagerly expected and welcomed by his loyal fans here in the US.
In the year 2001 Rick ventured back into Rock & Roll with Vanilla
Fudge superstars Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert produced a recording of
intense synergy - DBA (for Derringer, Bogert & Appice) with vocals,
writing and instrumentals shared by all three. 2004 promised a reprise
for Derringer and Appice, with the release of D-N-A.
After DBA the next project was truly a work from the heart and soul of
Rick and his wife Brenda Jean (Jenda Hall). Entitled Aiming 4 Heaven,
it brought forth their devotion to God and put it into song with help
from their children, Lory & Martin. That project opened the doors
for a worldwide release on Reborn Records.
In 2002 Rick ventured into a whole new musical world - Smooth Jazz.
Interest in Rick Derringer - Free Ride grew quickly at radio, and the
second single "Hot And Cool" (in the 'Radio and Records' top 20 for 5
months, and number 42 for the year) showed Derringer right at home in
the format. It might come as a surprise, but as he explains, it's the
kind of music he's been waiting to do his whole life. His wife Brenda
is featured as co-writer on three songs, and arranger/singer on the
title cut.
In 2007, Rick released Rockin' America, featuring the patriotic song
Real American, which has been used by The President, during political
campaigns, and on the hit FX series, "It's Always Sunny in
Philadelphia". In 2009, Rick released yet another display of blues
talent on Knighted by the Blues, again featuring wife Jenda as
co-writer on several songs. In 2010, Rick released an amazing
compilation of Freddie, Albert and B.B. King on The Three Kings of the
Blues. And finally, the year 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of Rick
Derringer's All American Boy debut solo album and his long journey of
successes as producer, songwriter, and player throughout the years.
In September of 2015, Rick will return to his hometown to celebrate the
2015 Union City Arts Festival. Rick Derringer, original member of the
McCoy's, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the #1 hit song "Hang
on Sloopy" September 12th.
Read more information on Rick Derringer on his web site,
http://www.rickderringer.com/.
About Union City Arts Festival
The Union City Arts Festival was established to celebrate local,
regional and emerging artists. The mission of the festival is to
showcase the visual, performing, and culinary arts of Union City and
beyond; establish an environment that encourages creativity,
expression, and interaction; promote Union City as a vibrant place to
live, grow, and invest; provide exhibition opportunities for emerging
artists and experimental media, along side traditional art form; and
build community pride through cultural events and connect a diverse
range of individuals through the arts.
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