The man behind “Real American” song, Rick Derringer, passes away

Rick Derringer, the musician and producer behind the popular Hulk Hogan song “Real American,” passed away yesterday at the age of 77.

It was his friendship with Cydni Lauper which introduced him to the World Wrestling Federation, with Derringer and Jim Steinman producing The Wrestling Album. He then wrote “Real American,” the song which to this day is used by Hulk Hogan, becoming one of the most recognizable and most popular theme songs in the history of professional wrestling.

Derringer also produced the WWF’s second album, Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II and co-wrote the Demolition theme song as well.