Rick Derringer - legendary guitarist, rock icon and songwriter behind hits such as "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" and "Real American" - has died. He was 77 years old. The news comes via a Facebook post from the musician's caretaker,

Derringer first rose to fame as the lead singer of The McCoys, who reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the 1965 song “Hang On Sloopy.” A teenager at the time, Derringer was still going by his birth name, Richard Dean Zehringer, and performing with his brother Randy.

Guitarist and singer Rick Derringer, who shot to fame at 17 when his band The McCoys recorded “Hang On Sloopy,” had a hit with “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” and earned a Grammy Award for producing “Weird Al” Yankovic’s debut album, has died. He was 77. Derringer was born in Celina, Ohio, on August 5, 1947.

Rick Derringer, best known for founding the rock band The McCoys and recording the 1965 hit song Hang On Sloopy with his bandmates at just age 17, has died. The news of his death was announced on Facebook by his pal and caretaker, Tony Wilson, in a heartbreaking update.