[Note: Donnie was born in 1943; he was not 10 in 1950, but well get back to this.] However, the group only performed a few times before they disbanded and Ierace went to college. In February 2018, "Donnie Iris and the Cruisers" celebrated Iris' 75th birthday by playing three sold-out shows in The Palace. Pittsburgh Curiosities: The Secret Doughboy, Why 1898 Was A Big Year for America, Andrew Carnegie and Pittsburgh, Party Like It's 1898: The Pittsburgh Zoo and Kennywood Celebrate 125-Year Birthdays, Maestra: Meet Four Pittsburgh Conductors Who Seek Gender Equity, Pittsburgh Pizza Debate: The Aiellos Vs. Mineos Rivalry Expands to the Suburbs, Who's The Best of the 'Burgh in 2023? Their next album one year later, Fortune 410, contained the hit single "Do You Compute?" Login Donnie: Probably. Iris was enshrined with a plaque at Pittsburgh's Hard Rock Cafe on April 23, 2015 and he performed a set with an all-star Pittsburgh band. Discover what happened on this day. As Mrs. Ierace talked, the children returned home from school: 11 year old Addie, bright-eyed and perpetually smiling, wearing a "Donnie Iris and the Cruisers" button on her denim jacket, and Erin, at 16 becoming a lovely young lady. Donnie Iris found fame as the lead singer of the Jaggerz, the hit wonder from 1970 responsible for the number-two hit The Rapper, but Donny Iris and The Cruisers returned to the pop charts in the early '80s several times as a solo act. He later approached Iris and Marty Lee Hoenes who both immediately liked the idea, giving birth to King Cool Limited. "Well, accuse us of slobbering if you must, but as those of you in the Midwest are well aware, Donnie Iris and Company simply comprise one of the day's most talented acts and it's nothing short of amazing that massive success has not yet found it's way to them. Ierace and the Jaggerz first came to national prominence in 1970 for the #2 hit "The Rapper," written by Ierace and included on their second album, We Went to Different Schools Together, released on the Kama Sutra label. When is Donnie Iriss birthday? Donnie Iris: Ah! The same attitude has sustained him through a career that has taken him through the heights and depths of the music business. 1 hit from 1976. peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #34 in Australia) in February 1981 and became one of the most frequently played AOR tracks of the year, and the album reached #57 on the Billboard 200. On one Indian summer afternoon, Iris cut the grass as his wife, the former Linda Grimm of Patterson, cooked chili and talked about the life of a rock singer's wife. He wrote the #2 Billboard hit, "The Rapper", with the Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music." Donnie Iris is an American rock musician best known for his 80s hits "Ah, Leah!" and "Love is Like a Rock", both inspired by contemporary new wave and power pop music. Posted 2023-03-01. Time to Nominate Your Favorites, He Fell in Love With This Mexican War Streets Home While Grabbing a Coffee, This Craftsman-Style Cutie in Regent Square Got a Modern Makeover, The First Round Is Just the Starting Point for the Steelers, Franco Harris Statue Takes Off to New Location at Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburghs St. Patricks Day Parade Returns Bigger than Ever, Cocktails & Dreams: 9 Boozy Bars That Opened During the Pandemic, How This Duo is Turning Old Buildings in Pittsburgh Into New Foodie Experiences, Our Pittsburgher of the Year: Rich Fitzgerald. What happened next? With each album, there is hope that it will shoot to number one with a bullet, as they say. The follow-up album, "King Cool," with his band, The Cruisers, also yielded a Top-30 single, "My Girl," and "Love Is Like A Rock," which nearly broke the Top 30. Leah! For those who do not have an account on a certain platform, we added the official website link of the platform. While formal training didn't interest him, the guitar fascinated him enough that he started playing again when studies at Slippery Rock University turned out not to be his cup of tea. I gave it up and put the guitar behind the couch. The Concert for Legends is coordinated by the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls. Leah!" Donnie: Hey, the Beatles are on TV as we speak. His early musical influences include Tony Bennett and Johnny Ray, as well as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Marvin Gaye. First one, then the other. Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Ritchie Valens were also His acquaintances. Donnie: [Laughs] Now you really sound like Chris Farley! My Dad bought me my first guitar when I was in the 11th grade. It Isnt Fair. . It was a great place to grow up, says Iris, born Dominic Ierace. Its really good I think. Taylor Group. In 2023, His Personal Year Number is 1. Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, United States, Midwest National Records (1979-1980), MCA Records (1980-1984), HME Records (1984-1985), Seathru Records (1992-1997), Primary Records (1997-present), Midwest National Records (197980), MCA Records (198084), HME Records (198485), Seathru Records (199297), Primary Records (1997present), The Fabutons, The Tri-Vels/Donnie and the Donnells, The Jaggerz, B. E. Taylor, Wild Cherry, Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, Cellarful of Noise, Nina Sainato. We played frat parties. And Im thinking, man that is Ray Charles. ASIN : B094Z6ZBC5. The band's first EP, You Can't Really Miss Me If I Never Go Away, was released in 2008. Mark: I thought it was a Paul Whiteman thing. OK, I have a commemorative 1943 book. Iris, who now lives in Coraopolis, says other than the cold winters, he wouldnt change anything about growing up in western Pennsylvania. He was inspired by many different artists, including Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, and Ray Charles. I was eight years old, Spark! [32][33][34][35], Donnie Iris and the Cruisers' peak years (198085), New Cruisers lineups and different projects (198693), Later endeavors and new albums (19942009), Donnie Iris and the Cruisers (1979present), King Cool: Ah! His good humor makes him the member of the family called on to teach nervous 16-year-olds how to drive. I was eight? Who is Donnie Iris dating? I doubt it." He doesn't like to go out and do a lot of things.". Donnie: Let me think. We hope you get the information about Donnie Iris. [18] June 17, 2006 was recognized throughout Lawrence County, Pennsylvania as Donnie Iris Day by Ellwood City Executive Council President Glenn Jones and Mayor Roy P. Meehan. Melody [Donnies significant other, shouts from the other side of the room]: I would never even ask that. I just want him more for us." (Donnie uses Iris only as a stage name.) Waite's is just the kind of place where a rock 'n' roll star can feel at home. He is 80 years old. "I enjoy small-town life. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular . Because that was the breakthrough as I see it: when the bra not only lifted, but separated too. He suffered through three piano lessons and one guitar lesson before loosing interest - even now, he doesn't read music. The Jaggerz eventually broke up around 1977, but reunited in 1989 without Ierace, who by that point was well into his solo career. In fact, my favorite picture of you is the one when you were in the car with the ring on your finger; Marty and I included that photo on the disc itself. "I enjoy small-town life. Throughout the 1970s, Ierace was credited by various names on Jaggerz and Wild Cherry albums: by his birth name, Dominic Ierace; Don Ierace; and a stage name he had adopted to make it easier for people to remember his name, Don Iris. "What is success?" I just couldn't believe it, man." Many people couldn't. They had difficulty grasping that those longtime residents hickory perma-lift brassieres. Opinions differ. Donnie: Maybe a year or so. Last update: 2022-09-29 00:00:00, If you are a model, tiktoker, instagram Influencer or brand marketer, who is looking for Collaborations, then you can join our Facebook Group named "Influencers Meet Brands - in4fp.com". Help keep Donnie Iris profile up to date. Iris also received special commendations and awards from United States Congresswoman Melissa Hart and Pennsylvania state representative Frank LaGrotta. The only thing you can do is go out and support the record," Iris said. The Vindys are wonderful. The greatest overall compatibility with Pieces is Virgo and Taurus. Leah!.". But as radio station playlists become more and more rigid, it becomes harder for someone like Iris to break through. "The sound Iris puts out compares with anything that's out now," says Chris Shovlin, general manager at WBVP-WWKS in Beaver Falls. Donnie: Pretty much. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Overcast. [25] However, this project has turned into a special release to celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the formation of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, which was expected to be released in 2014. My favorite entree is by far the Chicharones de Pollo. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. "It's not that I want him out of it. We found him at Slippery Rock (the college) and formed a four man band. Titled Out of the Blue, the album was a compilation album containing older hits and new material. I like things simple.". "I thought we were on our way," Iris said. The band was also looking for a new guitarist, and upon learning of Ierace and his association with "The Rapper," he was recruited by frontman Rob Parissi. I like things simple." His first group was Donnie and the Donnells; the group merged with Gary and the Jeweltones in 1963 to form the Jaggerz. He suffered through three piano lessons and one guitar lesson before loosing interest - even now, he doesn't read music. During recording, the band performed one reunion show together at Conneaut Lake. People born on a Sunday can often rely on sympathy from others and generally have luck on their side. As a kid, everybody wanted to be a baseball player or a football player, but when I knew I was way too small for any of that stuff I decided early on, OK, well, Ill just go to college and maybe be a teacher or something like that, he says. Sure. Donnie Iris was stunned. It used to be, but now I look at it more realistically. We never explored that side of your voice. What does he consider the best, most successful, time of his career? struck gold as the most exciting time of her husband's career "just because it was so unexpected. Mark: But does it separate? The info about Donnie Iris's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, family, affairs, car, salary, age, and other details are based on Wikipedia, IMDb, Forbes, Instagram, and Facebook of Donnie Iris. The Ellwood City native is known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry in the 70s. "I got books to figure out where to put my fingers," he recalled. The two were replaced by Scott Alan Williamson on bass and Tommy Rich on drums. They're sensitive empaths, so they can pick up the emotions of others, and they're generally reserved and kindhearted. His 80 th birthday celebration concert is set for March 11 at Robert Morris University. The popularity of rock and roll inspired Ierace to become a self-taught guitarist. Steelers glasses are lined up on a ledge. The song caught on with disc jockeys nationally and hit number 28 on the Billboard charts. Waite's is just the kind of place where a rock 'n' roll star can feel at home. He is best known for being a Rock Singer. Mark: How long did Donnie and the Donnelles last? Dec 17 2022. Born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. He has produced two more Top-30 singles and a string of records that made Billboard's Hot 100 charts. Everything youd want is right here, and the people, theyre yinzers. Jimmy Roach, a disc jockey at WDVE in Pittsburgh began playing one of the cuts from the album, "Ah! Every day someone was calling me at work and saying that something had happened with the song." Donnie Iris was born on February 28, 1943 (age 80) in Elwood City, Pennsylvania, United States. He said he met the Vindys, based out of Youngstown, two years ago in Akron when they opened for his band. It will be Iriss first time playing at the venue, which holds 4,000 people on the campus of Robert Morris University. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. "He seems to be issuing a continuing invitation to party," said one reviewer. It is probably the biggest event I have been involved in within this area.. Donnie Iriss birth sign is Pisces and he has a ruling planet of Neptune. Mark: I will look up who was born in 1943. Donnie: He had that rockabilly thing that I liked. Donnie Iris is ready to get back to performing after sitting idle for 16 months. In 2004, the band celebrated its 25th anniversary with a new compilation album featuring their rarer material, 25 Years, and performed live at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for 4,000 people. Pittsburgh has its share of rock legends both locally or nationally renowned but none like Donnie Iris. Vincent is 5 7 (1.7 m) tall. Other days, he sits on one of the stools at the old-fashioned soda fountain, hunched over the sports pages, smoking BelAir. The strengths of this sign are being compassionate, artistic, gentle, wise, while weaknesses can be to be fearful, overly trusting and desire to escape reality. READ MORE: Lee Roy Parnell Albums. . Mark: How long did the Trivells last? [Pause] Menu. Wait! The physical condition of Donnie Iris is good. Visit the official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Wikipedia, and YouTube accounts of Donnie Iris. He wrote the #2 Billboard hit, "The Rapper", with the Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music." I like the simple life. Do you want to know what is the educational qualifications of Donnie Iris? Reflecting on his time traveling around northern Ohio and Pittsburgh, Iris said his favorite place to perform was at Jergels Rhythm Grille in Warrendale. J ] Donnie Iris is part of the Baby boomers generation. "Back On The Streets" was released on a local label and eventually picked up by MCA. Iris said he feels great for his age and hopes to rock for many years to come. The band keeps going because they love it so far, he said. So, George Harrison is three days older than you! Donnie: I am a Pisces, the fish. A catchy, reggae-soul-flavored tune, it told the story of a smooth operator who cruised bars and preyed on unsuspecting females.