 |
| The McCoys with Rick Derringer playing his gold top Les Paul |
It was in 1965 that The McCoys were on top of the charts with their hit, “Hang On Sloopy.” Guitarist Rick Derringer owned a 1957 Les Paul gold-top that had originally belonged to John Sebastian of the Lovin’ Spoonful. This guitar had come with a stock Bigsby vibrato.
Derringer loved that guitar, but his father complained that it looked “beat up.” Derringer died in Ormond Beach, Florida on May 26, 2025, at the age of 77.
According to TMZ, Derringer's wife, Jenda Derringer, said he "died peacefully after being taken off life support Monday night following a medical episode".
His caretaker and close friend, Tony Wilson, said Derringer had undergone a triple bypass two months earlier but had been doing well.
 |
| John Sebastian with the Les Paul |
Derringer’s family made their home in a small town in central Ohio called Ft. Recovery. His given surname is actually Zehringer, but he was inspired by the derringer pistol that was on the label of Bang Records an used the stage name Derringer throughout his career.
Rick took his Dad’s suggestion to heart. In 1966 decided to make a 3 hour drive to the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo Michigan where he asked that his guitar be refinished.
Instead of going with the original gold-top finish, Derringer decided he liked the clear red finish that was featured on Gibson’s SG models.
After the work was finished Derringer was disappointed, because, in his opinion, the guitar never played or sounded as good as it originally did. He states that he could not keep it in tune and felt that Gibson had done more changes than just the finish.
On a trip to Manhattan, Derringer traded the Les Paul at Dan Armstrong’s guitar shop.
Rick took his Dad’s suggestion to heart. In 1966 decided to make a 3 hour drive to the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo Michigan where he asked that his guitar be refinished.
Instead of going with the original gold-top finish, Derringer decided he liked the clear red finish that was featured on Gibson’s SG models.
After the work was finished Derringer was disappointed, because, in his opinion, the guitar never played or sounded as good as it originally did. He states that he could not keep it in tune and felt that Gibson had done more changes than just the finish.
 |
| Eric Clapton with Les Paul |
Shortly after that Eric Clapton was in Armstrong's store, and he liked the red guitar and purchased it.
Not too long after that Clapton gave it to his friend George Harrison. Harrison loved the Les Paul.
This was during the time George had been mainly using his Gibson SG. With the acquisition of the Les Paul, Harrison rarely played the SG and gave it away to Pete Ham, the guitarist for Bad Finger.
Not too long after that Clapton gave it to his friend George Harrison. Harrison loved the Les Paul.
 |
| Harrison With His Gibson SG |
This was during the time George had been mainly using his Gibson SG. With the acquisition of the Les Paul, Harrison rarely played the SG and gave it away to Pete Ham, the guitarist for Bad Finger.
At the time Bad Finger had just signed a contract with Apple Records and the SG was laying around the studio, which gave Ham an opportunity to play it and he fell in love with it. Sadly, Pete Ham took his own life in 1975.
His wife sold the SG at a garage sale!!
It was later found and was placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until June of 2015 when an anonymous bidder paid 294,000 pounds ($570,000) for it. But I digress.
 |
| Harrison With Les Paul (Lucy) |
Harrison had given the name Lucy to his beloved red Les Paul as a reference to the great redheaded comedian/actress Lucille Ball aka Lucy.
Ironically Lucille Ball and Lucy the guitar both started out as blonds.
Harrison had used this guitar on the White Album and subsequently on the Get Back and/Let It Be recordings.
 |
| Harrison - Delaney and Bonnie Tour |
He had traveled with it when he joined the Delaney, Bonnie and Friends Tour.
 |
| Harrison With Lucy |
 |
| Lucy |
Guitarist Mark Havey maintained residences in both California and in Mexico. Back in 1973 he was residing at his California home. His friend, Miguel Ochoa, was visiting the United States to buy guitars and make a little money reselling them in Mexico when he stopped in to see Havey.
 |
| George Whalin |
After the visit, Ochoa went to the Whalin’s Sound City in Hollywood (which later became the first Guitar Center) and saw this gorgeous red Les Paul hanging on the wall and he bought it for $650.
Unbeknownst to Havey, Ochoa had given the store Havey’s phone number as his own contact number. The next day Whalin’s owner, George Whalin contacted Mark Havey with the story that the store owed Ochoa some money because they had overcharged him for the Les Paul. The story seemed pretty suspicious.
Finally Whalin explained they should have kept the guitar for 30 days to make certain there were no claims against it and see if it clears their “hot property” list of stolen instruments. This guitar was on that list and furthermore Whalin learned it belonged to George Harrison. He was in trouble.
 |
| Tony Bacon |
At the meeting Harrison said his home had been broken in to and property was stolen, which included the cherry red Les Paul. Harrison said it actually belonged to Clapton and was only on loan to him. He needed that guitar back.
Havey left a message for Miguel Ochoa.to call him. A couple of days went by and Ochoa called back. Havey let Miguel know that Harrison was willing to pay for the guitars return, however Ochoa hedged. He was now in Guadalajara, Mexico and would only return it on the condition that he receive a 1958 Sunburst Les Paul, an early model Fender Precision Bass and four other guitars. He was holding this guitar hostage!
 |
| Part of Harrison's Collection |
 |
| Norm's Rare Guitars |
Eventually Norm Harris, from Norm’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana happened to have a 1968 Sunburst Les Paul and a vintage Fender bass. Harrison bought the instruments on the spot..
George then flew Havey and Bacon to Mexico and the instruments were swapped and Lucy made it safely home.
Harrison later quipped, "My guitar was kidnapped and I had to pay some guy in Guadalajaura Mexico to get it back."
In 2013 Gibson produced a limited edition of the Harrison/Clapton Lucy guitar. Gibson used MRI scans to document every nick and scratch and modification made to this remake of only 50 guitars.
Rick Derringer first came to my attention in the mid 1960's when The McCoys had a hit record called Hang On Sloopy. The song had been recorded by a group called The Strangeloves.
After Sloopy, theband followed up with their rendition of Peggy Lee's hit song Fever and a Richie Valen song, Come Oh, Let's Go.
The McCoys called it quits in 1968. Rick and Randy went on to join The Edgar Winter Group. In 1973 Derringer then went on to do a solo act.
He collaborated with Barbara Streisand, Cyndy Lauper, Jim Steinman, and produced most of the recordings for Weird Al Yankovic.
By 2010 he went on three world tours with Ringo Star and The All Star Band. He and his wife recorded two popular Chinese songs as Ricky Tu and Jenda Tu for their Asia project.
In 2008 Rick sold some of his prized guitars to Gruhn Guitars. Then starting in January of 2025 and lasting to February of that year he auctioned off many of his favorite guitars. Perhaps he knew something was up?
 |
| But wait, there's more! |
The purchase included a Certificate of Authenticity, hand signed by Eric Clapton that was encased in a white leather bound, embossed folio. Also a 180 gram vinyl copy of the White Album. Plus owners manual, adjustment literature and coverage under Gibson’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. Asking price at the time was $15,000.
But I digress.
 |
| The McCoys 1965 |
Rick Derringer first came to my attention in the mid 1960's when The McCoys had a hit record called Hang On Sloopy. The song had been recorded by a group called The Strangeloves.
Their record I Want Candy was a hit, and they didn't want to interfere with that records success. So The Strangeloves got their opening act from Dayton, Ohio to do the song.
The track was already recorded. They had the lead singer of Rick and The Raiders, Rick Zehringer sing the lead vocal. The song became a number one hit, The management company felt the band's name sounded too much like Paul Revere and The Raiders, so it was changed to The McCoys. Around this time The McCoys did local appearances in southern Ohio, near where I have lived for most of my life.
 |
| The McCoys "Fever" |
After Sloopy, theband followed up with their rendition of Peggy Lee's hit song Fever and a Richie Valen song, Come Oh, Let's Go.
Zehringer changed his name to Derringer. His brother Randy went on to be known simply as Randy Z.
 |
| Derringer with Edgar Winter |
The McCoys called it quits in 1968. Rick and Randy went on to join The Edgar Winter Group. In 1973 Derringer then went on to do a solo act.
Later on Rick played guitar on a few Steely Dan songs. Derringer also recorded the guitar solo for Total Eclipse Of The Heart by Bonnie Tyler, and the solo on Air Supply's song, Making Love Out Of Nothing At All.
 |
| Derringer producing Weird Al |
He collaborated with Barbara Streisand, Cyndy Lauper, Jim Steinman, and produced most of the recordings for Weird Al Yankovic.
In 1997 Rick Derringer became a born again Christian. He recorded a couple of Christian albums with his wife, Jenda, in 2001.
 |
| 2010 Ringo Starr's All Stars |
By 2010 he went on three world tours with Ringo Star and The All Star Band. He and his wife recorded two popular Chinese songs as Ricky Tu and Jenda Tu for their Asia project.
In 2014 he and other well known players went on tour as Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus.
 |
| Derringer's Guitar Auction |
In 2008 Rick sold some of his prized guitars to Gruhn Guitars. Then starting in January of 2025 and lasting to February of that year he auctioned off many of his favorite guitars. Perhaps he knew something was up?
© UniqueGuitar Publications (text only)
Click on the links below the pictures for sources
Click on the links in the text for further information