Donnie Iris and the Cruisers Members - Donnie Iris, Mark Avsec, Kevin Valentine, Marty Lee Hoenes, Albritton McClain (Paperback)

Chapters: Donnie Iris, Mark Avsec, Kevin Valentine, Marty Lee Hoenes, Albritton Mcclain. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 28. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Donnie Iris (born Dominic Ierace on February 28, 1943) is an American rock musician known for his work with The Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo albums during the 1980s. He was responsible for writing the #2 Billboard hit "The Rapper" with the Jaggerz, and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music." After releasing five solo albums in the 1980s with many charting singles, Iris continues to release new material and tour in the Ohio River Valley area. Overall, he has released ten studio albums, one EP, two live albums, and two compilations. Additionally, he was personnel on the first three Jaggerz albums and the third and fourth Wild Cherry albums. Born Dominic Ierace in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Iris began singing at weddings at age five, and by eight was performing on local television and entering talent contests. When his voice changed around age 12, he took up the drums but later got back into singing while in college. Donnie learned how to sing from his Mother and then from Tony Bennett and Marvin Gaye, and was also a self-taught guitarist, starting at about age 15. While attending Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Iris formed a band called The Trivells with two fellow musicians. With the addition of a fourth man, they renamed themselves Donnie and The Donnelles. This band in both incarnations played frat parties. Around 1965, Donnie and The Donnelles merged with members of another band called Gary and The Jewel Tones, forming The Jaggerz (originally The "Jaggers"). Their first album, Introducing the Jaggerz, was released in 1969. It was the fi...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=168212