Update: Rick Derringer verified that Lisa is the famous dancer. The Deconstructing a Myth: Sloopy Girl documentary had been released and available for only one month when Rick Derringer confirmed publicly, at his YouTube channel on October 23, 2021, that Lisa Leonard Dalton was the dancer in his popular online video. Apparently the 1975 reggae version of the song, with the steel drums and marimba, was not his favorite rendition of the famous tune — but he sure recognized and remembered Lisa and her incredible dancing. The Deconstructing a Myth: Sloopy Girl documentary had been prepared before Rick confirmed that Lisa was the mysterious dancer — so the video documentary had by necessity relied heavily on the accounts of a dozen witnesses, vintage photos, physical evidence, and police grade facial recognition software that had unequivocally identified Lisa Leonard Dalton as the “Sloopy Girl” dancer. Again in November 2022, Rick Derringer confirmed on his Facebook page that Lisa was the dancer in his viral online “Hang On Sloopy” video. At QZVX we knew that all along, but now it is 100% — Lisa Leonard Dalton danced in Rick’s 1975 music video. Just the same, it is much appreciated that Rick stepped forward to verify the truth. RIP Rick, you will be missed!
Since that matter has now been settled, let’s move on to the original story from May 2020.
Here’s the original information, including recent updates, that accompanied this article when it was published in May 2020:
As a kid, living in the NW corner of Washington State, I had great reception of Canadian radio stations. Those of us looking for an AM Top-40 radio station in 1965 and ’66 often heard the sound of C-FUN out of Vancouver, BC. The intro to this video harks back to those days.
“Hang On Sloopy” was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1965. Other records by The McCoys that received significant radio airplay included “Fever,” “Sorrow,” and “Come On Let’s Go.” Rick Derringer also produced records and played lead guitar with Edgar and Johnny Winter in the 1970s. He had a solo hit with “Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo” in 1974 (Billboard Hot 100 peak position #23).
Usually I post a very early rendition of a “Found Performance.” This is an exception. I have located two 1965 appearances by the original “McCoys.” But the video I chose is from 1975 and it will get your attention. It has an 80 million strong fan base.
Former McCoys’ vocalist, Rick Derringer, was filming a new music film to promote a remake of his former band’s hit single “Hang On Sloopy.” It wasn’t the new 1975 incarnation of the decade old song that got the attention of the fans. It was the blond dancing girl. The premise was that during the film shoot, a gorgeous girl would stroll by and spontaneously break into a sexy and captivating dance routine.
It didn’t take much of a detective work to debunk that theory. Girls like this don’t just wander down the street into a film set. This girl was obviously no ordinary passerby. After a decade of rumors, and one British woman, with zero connection to Derringer or the dance, trying to hint around that she had some connection to Derringer. In 2021 t was revealed that Lisa Leonard Dalton, an American, is the authentic Sloopy Girl.
The urban legend that the “Hang On Sloopy” dancer was the British party planner, or that she had been married to singer Rick Derringer, were discredited. If you’ve heard that false rumor, then you need to see “Sloopy Wives-Fact and Fiction” (Read it HERE ). The meticulously documented article answers the questions: How old are these ladies and who was actually married to Rick Derringer? At the time of her 1975 performance Lisa Leonard Dalton was 19 years old. A California girl, she came to the attention of the filmmakers when she won the 1974 dance competition at Gazzarri’s, a popular Hollywood nightclub. For anyone with any remaining interest in Brewer, the answers to some of the questions that inevitably come up about her can be found in the British Newspaper Archives. (Click HERE to view an assortment of clippings).
Several music tracks have accompanied this 1975 video in its online life. In my original video below, I had edited into the video the 1965 hit version of “Hang On Sloopy.” I later regretted doing that: It was nearly impossible to get a good lip sync with the singer, because the two versions of the song were so different. But, the bigger issue was it created confusion. A number of online videos include the old 1965 song dubbed over the 1975 dance video. Part of the mistaken identity can be traced to viewers thinking the video was filmed ten years earlier than it actually was. In fact, the 1975 version of “Hang On Sloopy” that should go with the video was a reggae cover with steel drums and a marimba. The reggae cover of “Hang On Sloopy” came out on Rick Derringer’s 1975 album “Spring Fever” and at that time the “Sloopy” track was also, once again, released as a 45 RPM single.
In researching this project, I came across a family photo of Lisa Leonard Dalton dating back to 2010. I knew that her facial expression was familiar to me. Sure enough, her expression and appearance perfectly matched the “Sloopy Girl” dancer. Nobody needs facial recognition software to realize that even 35 years later, this is the same woman. To read the story of the search for “Sloopy Girl,” check out “Deconstructing a Myth: Sloopy Girl.” You can watch it by clicking HERE.
Editorial Update (Feb. 2022)
Lisa Leonard Dalton appeared in an on-camera interview in January 2022. It is the first in a series of several short video interviews. To watch “Up-Close & Personal in Tennessee” click HERE.
When the Deconstructing a Myth video was released in summer 2021 it went viral. Shortly afterwards, YouTube Channels and entertainment websites updated their information to reflect that Lisa Leonard Dalton is the authentic “Sloopy Girl.” The narrative has certainly changed. When entering Lisa Leonard Dalton’s name in a search engine, it’s readily apparent that she now has a strong online presence as the mysterious “Hang on Sloopy” dancer. To learn more about our discovery that Lisa Leonard Dalton is the Sloopy Girl, please click HERE.
Overwhelmingly, thousands of “Sloopy Girl” fans embraced the truth. They asked Lisa to share current photos and to record a cell phone video. On November 5, 2021, Lisa accommodated those requests. While attending a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Knoxville, two of Lisa’s friends took some pictures and she recorded a video greeting. Two of the new photos are included below. To watch Lisa Leonard Dalton’s new video, called November Night in Tennessee, please click HERE. And check out Lisa’s “Sloopy Girl” website at https://lisasloopygirl.com/
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Steven Smith • February 16, 2021
Lisa, you post this at various websites yet, when asked to do so, you provide no corroboration at all…not even a photo of you in the mid seventies. I have had two other people write and say they were the dancer or, in one case, it was his wife. I doubt them. And I have seen a written Email from one or the two Lizs, I am not saying if it is Liz Brewer or Derringer …they are two different ladies….in which one says matter of factly she is the dancer. I have agreed not to disclose that claim just yet, as she wishes to discuss it in an upcoming book. Both of the Lizs are published authors. So if you want to be taken seriously on this one you need to provide some sort of evidence even if it is thin.
Elle • May 29, 2021
Steven, I have sent Lisa Dalton your request for an interview about 5 times. Tonight she acted like she never knew you had been trying to contact her and claimed she would Love to do an interview with you. She sounds more like a troll looking for attention than someone who wants to set the truth. I do hope she contacts you and puts this to rest.
Lisa Dalton • February 15, 2021
It is Not Liz Brewer.
I know this because I am the dancer in the video!!
john seamus marengo • February 14, 2021
Well I used to think it was Liz Brewer, but not sure now. There’s a Lisa Dalton on various youtube threads showing that vid that claims it’s her. No idea………… it did change my view a bit, as it very easily could’ve been just assumed it was Brewer, cuz she was married to Derringer.
Below is from youtube thread, where Lisa Dalton claims its her.
“Dancer is NOT Liz Brewer. It is I !! My name is Lisa Dalton
lisa dalton
lisa dalton
3 weeks ago
Its not been quite 50 years since, but yea I had no idea! Hi I am Lisa, the dancer in video
lisa dalton
lisa dalton
3 weeks ago
@Richard Bool sorry but it is not Liz – it is I , Lisa 😁
lisa dalton
lisa dalton
3 weeks ago
@DESMOND FITZGERALD I am not rich. I was paid a couple hundred to make video. You are right – I could have really been someone! Had the wrong guy in my life
lisa dalton
lisa dalton
3 weeks ago
@ConvairDart106 dancer is not Liz!!”
Who knows?
Elle • May 29, 2021
John Seamus, It’s odd she told you she was paid when she claims she won a contest to get to be the dancing girl and never mentions she was paid. Also, I have found post from her going back months saying she is working on getting the proof where she can show everyone it is her. If Lisa Dalton is indeed the girl dancing, it shouldn’t be that hard to prove. With her claims that she forgot a lot of details and statement of why should she lie, it is just odd. I don’t care if it’s her, but she needs to put up or shut up.
And there is the SDR Show interview where Bebe Buell and Liz Brewer once married to Rick is in. She absolutely looks like it could have been her.
Steven Smith • May 29, 2021
Elle…clarification. That IS NOT Liz Brewer in the video you linked to. That is Liz, maiden name Agriss, who is American and goes by the name Liz Derringer. Both are on Facebook. Liz Brewer looks nothing like that lady and she is the Brit. They are two different ladies. The woman in this video interview with Bebe was never named Brewer! But she was married to Rick Derringer. She is Liz Agriss Derringer. Rick’s ex for sure…but was she the dancer? When I am in my office I will post a couple photos to make this clear. Google images has it totally screwed up.
Steven Smith • June 9, 2021
John….I think at Puget Sound Media we are very close to providing a 95 percent for sure answer. And if it turns out as I expect, it will create quite an online surprise.
Steven Smith • June 8, 2023
A couple things. It is incorrect that Brewer was ever married to Rick. Liz Derringer’s maiden name was Liz Agriss. She is American, Brewer had no connection to Rick ever. It’s all online hogwash. See the article here at QZVX called Sloopy Wives. After all the years of research at QZVX, Rick Derringer announced on Facebook last November that the dancer was Lisa…and NOT his ex Liz Agriss nor Liz the Brit..whom he does not know. It is disappointing that Brewer never cleared up all the false information online even the most ridiculous parts. I think she basked in the false but sexy mystique. Brewer was always the wrong age. She turned 80 yesterday. The video was shot in 1975. Brewer was in her 30s at the time, the actual dancer…Lisa Leonard Dalton…really was a dancing girl at age 19.
Steven Smith • December 11, 2020
Charles, the dancer may be Liz but ignore that video. That is not her actual interview. A guy named JC Mills with a YouTube account put that together and it is just a mock up with misinformation. For example, Melania Trump, per his caption, is tight with Liz Brewer in the UK. In fact she plans parties for Trump’s ex-wife Ivana….not Melania. The fellow posting has other videos at his site that he made up…call them spoofs. The actual book promotion video at Brewer’s official account has none of the dancing girl. It is straight interview and longer…..he cut a portion out of it. Again, she may be the dancer based on what we are finding out from valid sources, including contact with Liz Brewer herself, who was never married to Rick Derringer as the online story goes, but this Sloopy video cut into a copied Liz promo interview is by a guy guessing only. It is not a hint or acknowledgement from the real Liz Brewer that she is dancing girl. Liz indicated to me that she loves the speculation and chatter all around the Sloopy video, and she has a longterm plan for revealing any connection she might have to the video….but she is in no big rush.
Charles Alexander • December 4, 2020
It’s definitely Liz Brewer. And the recording that goes with the video can be heard on her video advertising her book.
It is not the original recording that belongs with this video.
Steven Smith • November 13, 2020
Note June 2021: We have seen Peter’s reply from Liz in the UK. When Puget Sound Media contacted her and asked her to go on record as the dancer she declined. She said she was writing memoirs and would discuss the Sloopy video then. Also she sent a photo of herself of the same vintage as the video …which is linked to farther down in this thread.
Peter Moss • November 13, 2020
Hi Steven,
I have contacted Liz Brewer herself and she confirms she is the dancing girl in the video. I can send you a screenshot of her email to me if you like.
lillian cordova • November 10, 2020
Hi, Love the song, love the dancer. If and when you find out for sure who the dancer is, please let me know. Thank you. Lilly
Steven Smith • November 11, 2020
Lillian….my video of the dancing girl is now getting 50,000 hits a day at youtube, and Lisa Dalton…who claims to be the dancer.. is commenting every week or so. I have left replies to her hoping she will instead of simply commenting contact me. If her story holds up I would be happy to acknowledge her role in the video at Puget Sound Media and YouTube. But I have had contacts from other sources claiming to be affiliated with the video so I need to talk to any such people before crediting them.
Steven Smith • October 6, 2020
Arnie…could be. So many people are taking a look at the photos and the video that it would be nice to eventually get an answer. This is an amazingly popular topic online. The speculation seems to be down to two women, but the few photos I have seen of the other choice when she was younger have not persuaded me her way either. Eventually I expect to get a totally convincing… less speculative…answer.
Arnie • October 6, 2020
The girl Liz has fuller lips, eyes are farther apart, and her face looks wider at the cheeks also her nose is wider at the base.