Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as we spin Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo by Rick Derringer from his 1973 album All American Boy! This anthem’s got a wild history that’ll light your fuse. Did you know this track was first penned by Derringer for Johnny Winter’s band, Johnny Winter And, back in 1970? Derringer himself said in Mary Lou Sullivan’s book Raisin’ Cain, “The first song I wrote for Johnny was ‘Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo’. ‘Rock and Roll’ to satisfy the rock ‘n’ roll that I was supposed to be bringing into the picture, and ‘Hoochie Koo’ to satisfy the king of blues sensibility that Johnny was supposed to maintain.” That blend of gritty rock and bluesy swagger was a perfect fit, but Derringer initially thought it was “a little corny,” admitting, “You don’t ever know,” when it became a hit. His solo version, recorded at Caribou Ranch in Colorado with Bobby Caldwell on drums and backing vocals from Carl Hall, Lani Groves, and Tasha Thomas, hit number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974, becoming a staple of classic rock radio.

The song’s got some spicy roots, too. “Hoochie Koo” is a nod to “Hoochie Coochie,” a sexual slang term popularized by Muddy Waters’ Hoochie Coochie Man. Derringer’s lyrics, full of that “wiggle that thing” energy, sparked debate among fans. Some, like a commenter on Songfacts, swore they heard raunchier lines, but others clarified the actual lyrics—“Come on a little closer, gonna do it to you”—kept it just tame enough for the FCC. The track’s infectious vibe has popped up everywhere, from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused to Guitar Hero II and Rock Band 4. It even got a wrestling twist when Derringer recorded a duet version with announcer Gene Okerlund for the WWF’s Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II in 1987. Fans on Reddit rave about live versions, especially the high-energy take on Edgar Winter’s Roadwork album, with one user calling it “crazy coke energy.”

Now, let’s rewind to how Rick Derringer got his start. Born Richard Dean Zehringer on August 5, 1947, in Celina, Ohio, Derringer was a musical prodigy. By his teens, he was fronting The McCoys, a garage rock band formed in 1965 with his brother Randy on drums and bassist Dennis Kelly (later replaced by Randy Jo Hobbs). At just 17, Derringer led the band to a number-one hit with Hang on Sloopy, a track that’s now a classic. The McCoys churned out seven Top 100 songs, including covers like Fever and Come on Let’s Go. By the late ‘60s, Derringer’s guitar chops caught the eye of Johnny Winter, and he joined Johnny Winter And, contributing to albums like Johnny Winter And and producing hits for both Johnny and Edgar Winter, like Frankenstein and Free Ride. His work extended to producing for Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, and “Weird Al” Yankovic, earning him a Grammy for Yankovic’s Eat It and Fat.

Derringer’s career is a testament to his versatility, from rock to blues to even Christian music in later years after becoming an Evangelical Christian in 1997. He’s still rocking, with recent posts on his Facebook and X accounts sharing updates on gigs and re-releases like Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo - The Best of Relaunched. Fans can catch more on his official website, though he’s less active on Instagram. For Zoo Freaks who want to connect with fellow fans, check out the Rick Derringer Fan Club on Facebook, where diehards share memories and rare photos. So, keep on rockin’, Zoo Crew, and let’s spread the news with this killer tune!