Rick Derringer, who had a hit with 'Hang On Sloopy' and produced 'Weird Al,' dies at 77

[Wiz Imp]

34. From a 2023 interview in Jazz Weekly

I was a Catholic from the first to eighth grade. People may say, “if you were a Catholic, you’re a Catholic”.

In the 9th grade, I moved to a new city and went to a regular community high school. After getting out of Catholic School, I kind of just forgot about being a Catholic. It wasn’t about not remembering all of the things that I had learned, but “Hang On Sloopy” came out during 12th grade, and I certainly forgot about it then! (laughs)

It wasn’t until I was going through a divorce, and having big problems, that I remembered I still had my upbringing. So, I went into a church one afternoon and prayed to God “I need help here.”

I told God “If you choose to bring me another mate, she better be a lot smarter than I am, because I have obviously not made the right decisions”

Within two weeks I met Jenda, and we’ve been pretty much together ever since. She taught me that I didn’t need Catholicism, but I just needed a Bible. So, now, we’re “The Bible People” (laughs), and we’ve been that ever since. We feel very happy and grounded.

https://www.jazzweekly.com/2023/10/jenda-and-rick-derringer-interview5/