But, hey, lets get the real story now . [22] Additionally, King Cool Light was released in the Youngstown, Ohio market in July of that same year. Iris Kaingu pens down consoletion later to #Mary_Chirwa in the obscene video. The only thing you can do is go out and support the record," Iris said. Donnie Iris and The Cruisers will headline a concert March 11 at the UPMC Events Center in Moon Township to celebrate Donnie Iriss 80th birthday. Born Dominic Ierace in middle class Pennsylvania, he got his first real start as a member of the pop group The Jaggerz (the one-hit-wonder responsible for 1970's #2 hit "The Rapper"). [12], Shortly after being let go from MCA, the band signed with the small HME Records label. Pittsburgh has its share of rock legends both locally or nationally renowned but none like Donnie Iris. "If it was someone I looked up to as a writer, it might affect me," he said. 06/21/2023. With each album, there is hope that it will shoot to number one with a bullet, as they say. His first group was Donnie and the Donnells; the group merged with Gary and the Jeweltones in 1963 to form the Jaggerz. I do like playing the more intimate shows like Jergels. Donnie: Pretty much. Donnie Iris: Ah! Donnie Iris (born Dominic Ierace, 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 career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers. History of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers documentary, Ferris, D.X. Haffey: "Probably until he's 62. Today, Donnie Iris announced his 80th Birthday Bash will be on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the UPMC Events Center with special guests the Vindy's and more guests to be announced. I gave it up and put the guitar behind the couch. We played frat parties. That was the beginning of Donnie Iris for me. Donnie Iris Wife Photo. . The title of the album is a reference to the trademark glasses Iris wears, Fortune 410's. As a result, MCA dropped the band in 1984. Because I looked up all kinds of people that were born in 1942. Want to more about Him? Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Things could be better, but they could be worse. Donnie Iris Net Worth Stats PHOTO COURTESY DONNIE IRIS. Happy 80 to Donnie Iris! I want them to be comfortable spiritually and monetarily. Aug 19, 2004. I just wanted to go out and play baseball and stuff, but she insisted I go practice, and Im glad she did that obviously.. Donnie: I am a Pisces, the fish. Around 1964, Ierace left Donnie and the Donnells to form the Jaggerz (originally the "Jaggers") with Benny Faiella of Gary and the Jewel Tones. Donnie: I dont know. He doesn't like to go out and do a lot of things.". 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. "I got books to figure out where to put my fingers," he recalled. "It's not that I want him out of it. Donnie: [Laughs] Now you really sound like Chris Farley! For all available tickets and to find shows in your city, scroll to the listings at the top of this page. It is probably the biggest event I have been involved in within this area.. 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". Linda Ierace now remembers the time when "Ah! It was a great place to grow up, says Iris, born Dominic Ierace. It was a mill town. The 79-year-old American rock singer has done well thus far. Leah!" Two other songs from the album received significant AOR airplay; "My Girl" at #25 and "Sweet Merilee" at #31, charted on the Rock Tracks chart. In an interview with Cleveland Scene published on February 3, 2010, Mark Avsec announced that the band's next project would be a Christmas album. Original Release Date : 2021. Melody: (from a distance): They started serving SPAM to soldiers in 1943. Also, he did about a two-year stint (1976-1978) playing shows with B. E. Taylor. Will he still be throwing his body around a stage when he's, say, 52? Donnie Iris is a 80 year old American Singer born on 28th February, 1943 in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, United States. In fact, Phil Spector, when he was hot, I am told once said that Jimmy Beaumont was the greatest white soul singer alive. Jimmy Beaumont was a bad ass. Two other MCA albums followed (The High And The Mighty and Fortune 410). Donnie: Im surprised I never mentioned that to you. It was during this period that he became acquainted with Mark Avsec, then playing keyboards for Wild Cherry. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular . It looks like a Madonna bra, all pointed . Iris shrugs it off. Despite Fortune 410 charting higher than The High and the Mighty, MCA was displeased that both albums didn't chart as high as Back on the Streets and King Cool had. "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. Mark: Whats your favorite cigar? Tommy VercettiBrif a MisuberManilaHQ Version. The Concert for Legends is coordinated by the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls. 1 hit from 1976. With each album, there is hope that it will shoot to number one with a bullet, as they say. "I feel I'm doing it not only for myself but for my family. Donnie: George Harrison was born on February 25, 1943. He said he met the Vindys, based out of Youngstown, two years ago in Akron when they opened for his band. While in Wild Cherry, he met keyboardist Mark Avsec; the two began collaborating on songs and made a demonstration tape which evolved into an album. For those who do not have an account on a certain platform, we added the official website link of the platform. "If it was someone I looked up to as a writer, it might affect me," he said. [26] On June 17, 2014, Iris and the Cruisers leaked a new song, "Sing the Songs of Summer (All Night Long)," the first track to be released from the band's intermittent time in the studio in the previous two years. Donnie: Probably. Later in 1994, Rich rejoined the group. The Jaggerz won a contract with the Kama Sutra label and released an album, "We Went To Different Schools Together." The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Donnie: [Laughs] He started playing the drums and guitar when he was twelve years old. Leah!" The only thing you can do is go out and support the record," Iris said. "The time he spends with us is always good time," Mrs. Ierace said. The band's 2006 album, Ellwood City, was a tribute to Iris's hometown, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. The song, "The Rapper," hit number one on the charts in 1970 and earned gold record status. More than 100 people gathered at the Ellwood City Historical Society building Thursday . Zodiac Sign: Donnie Iris is a Pisces. I like things simple." Donnie Iris was born on February 28, 1943 (age 80) in Elwood City, Pennsylvania, United States. Contribute. "It's all in the music," Iris explained. Melody [Donnies significant other, shouts from the other side of the room]: I would never even ask that. With Donnie Iris. [16] The band released another album in 1993, Footsoldier in the Moonlight. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. The Clarks have been around forever. The album produced a moderately successful single, "Samantha (What You Gonna Do). The birthday celebration will feature performances from The Clarks and The Vindys. Yeah, Elvis was around. I couldn't see us doing a tune like "Love is Like a Rock" and not getting into it. My dad worked in the steel mill just like basically everybody else did. 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. While the music of the '90s is more technologically advanced than it was in the '60s when Donnie Iris, lead singer of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, got started, the tunes and the lyrics are still drawn from the lives and experiences of the artists. Ruling Planet: Donnie Iris has a ruling planet of Neptune and has a ruling planet of Neptune. So that's all we have about Donnie Iris's net worth, bio, wiki, biography, height, weight, awards, facts, siblings, awards, and other information. 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. If you had a free afternoon, what would be the most ideal way to spend it? Youngstown, OH. Mark: So, youre older than George Benson? Bruce Springsteen, for example, enjoyed popularity for several years, but in 1985 he was doing the right thing at the right time and he became a mega-star. I always liked the Stratocaster better because I really liked the sound. [Note: Avsec always teaches his law students at Case Western Reserve University School of Law that the promise of copyrights monopoly does not motivate songwriters to write songs nearly as much as the desire to woo women.] The education details are not available at this time. He is a celebrity rock singer. Donnie: Mention that. He and his band members usually can't even agree on which cut from an album to release as a single. Linda Ierace now remembers the time when "Ah! Steelers glasses are lined up on a ledge. It was early, while I was at college. I am trying to get something set up to play there this summer. He has a cult of adoring fans and regularly wows audiences cross-country with his high-energy concerts. You can find His website below: http://www.donnieiris.com. Winds light and variable. He just has so much energy." Their next album, No MussNo Fuss, released in 1985, continued the trend set by Fortune 410 by charting at #115 with the single "Injured in the Game of Love". 10. Of course wasn't a hit because in 1985 it was all about synthesizers. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Mark: Do you remember the song that you were singing? The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. His good humor makes him the member of the family called on to teach nervous 16-year-olds how to drive. Even after releasing the eponymous debut album that same year, Cellarful of Noise, Avsec and Iris maintained that Donnie Iris and the Cruisers was still their main focus, and that they wanted to continue to release new albums with the band and its new line-up. Venue. People born under this sign enjoy being alone with their thoughts. Then youd actually only be 15 or 16 years old today because you would have had only 15 or 16 birthdays. Height . Avsec announced in a March 2012 interview that the band had begun working on their twelfth studio album, due out in 2013 to commemorate Iris's seventieth birthday. Donnie Iris's age is 79. Majority of Donnies money comes from being a rock singer. Related Videos. If Donnie had been a different person, maybe things would have turned out differently." Ridin' Thunder. [28] On the April 2, 2015 episode of Jim Krenn's No Restrictions podcast, Iris mentioned that he and the band hoped to have the often-delayed album out by the end of 2015. Really? Donnie: Maybe a year or so. By the end of the decade, as far as his music/public life went, he went by the name of Donnie Iris. Mark: But does it separate? Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Ritchie Valens were also His acquaintances. ", and in a Playboy magazine poll of disc jockeys, "Leah" was named the second best single of 1981. Wait! "My family is definitely the biggest thing in my life," Iris said. Mark: Can you tell the difference between the Stratocaster and the Telecaster? As of 2023, the current net worth of Donnie Iris is $100,000 -. November 10, 2020. Among them were Lola Falana and Linda Evans. 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. "All of us in the band have been itching to . "It's not that I want him out of it. Search Results - Showing 0 - 34 Of 71. 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. Donnie Iris and the Cruisers returned to the studio in 1992 to release their first album containing new material since 1985. 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. Later, she softened her stance. In an attractive brick-and-cedar Patterson Township home, the man who once appeared on stage wearing nothing but his briefs leads the life of a middle-class father. The song has a certain yearning to it. My favorite entree is by far the Chicharones de Pollo. Donnie Iris's Life Path Number is 2 as per numerology. Donnie Iris was born in 2-28-1943. Leah! 512 likes. [29] As of November 2018, there is still no release date known for the new album. July 11, 2014 at 11:06 . "It was a mill town. [8] Ierace went on the road with the group for about the next year and was featured on their 1979 album Only the Wild Survive. JUMP TO: Donnie Iriss biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos, net worth, and popularity. New music is not on the bands radar, but Iris said there is some unfinished material sitting in the studio. MGM Northfield Park - Center Stage. Donnie: We needed a bass player so we got another guy named Dave Rieser. Iris appeared on the television show "Solid Gold," singing "Ah! 9:00 PM. Iris first band, the Fabutons, was made up of himself and a few guys from New Castle. 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. I am getting more and more excited, thats for sure, he said. Donnie Iris partner, spouse list. Awesome song though. Leah! Mark: Whats your sign? www.parallel-time.com "Back On The Streets" was released on a local label and eventually picked up by MCA. "What it all comes down to is ratings.". The band's name, 'Wild Cherry', was taken from a box of cough drops. His 80 th birthday celebration concert is set for March 11 at Robert Morris University. Buy tickets for Donnie Iris concerts near you. Iris said there are more shows slated throughout this year going into early 2024, including performing with REO Speedwagon on June 21 in Youngstown and on July 24 with Foreigner at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Donnie: Hi, Mom: How are you? Sure. My dad worked in the steel mill just like basically everybody else did. 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. "When he's home, he likes to be home. Iris shrugs it off. when were redskin lollies first made. Mark: Well, I dont have the mastering refs back yet, but I do think that this Ellwood City album is really a good record for us. Donnie Iris's house, cars and luxury brand in 2023 will be updated as soon as possible, you can also click edit to let us know about this information. We were putting together the Back On The Streets album, and I mentioned Elvis Costello to you as a cool look. "If you sit up close, you can actually see his fists clenching and the muscles in his arms bulging," says Susan Haffey, a vice-president of Iris' management firm, Mike Belkin of Cleveland. Melody is going to get it. Mark: How long did Donnie and the Donnelles last? His mother had an old upright piano in their basement and taught him how to sing. Menu. Leah!" Donnie Iris: Do You Compute? Borough officials vow that forevermore, every Feb. 28 will be "Donnie Iris Day" in Ellwood City. "The sound Iris puts out compares with anything that's out now," says Chris Shovlin, general manager at WBVP-WWKS in Beaver Falls. Top cast. All Concerts. [24][31], In July 2021, Iris's first four studio albums were reissued in remastered CD form by Rock Candy Records. Share your thoughts in the comment section. "If you sit up close, you can actually see his fists clenching and the muscles in his arms bulging," says Susan Haffey, a vice-president of Iris' management firm, Mike Belkin of Cleveland. The next birthday of Donnie Iris is on 28 February, 2023. "I thought we were on our way," Iris said. "My family is definitely the biggest thing in my life," Iris said. In February 2018, "Donnie Iris and the Cruisers" celebrated Iris' 75th birthday by playing three sold-out shows in The Palace. At the time the two were just hoping to get a record deal, Iris said. They decided to go in a harder direction for their next release and returned to the studio with guitarist Marty Lee Hoenes, bassist Albritton McClain and drummer Kevin Valentine, who at the time was in the band Breathless with Avsec, to record his first full-length album. Lunchers eat cheeseburgers and disregard his presence. [Note: Donnie was born in 1943; he was not 10 in 1950, but well get back to this.] Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Overcast. An unbelievable shock," the dean of Western Pennsylvania rockers recalled Thursday. "It was a great place to grow up," says Iris, born Dominic Ierace. 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. 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." The 79-year-old Iris belted out lyrics while his bandmates kept up the energy with powerful guitars and percussion complemented by keyboards. Help keep Donnie Iris profile up to date. . Particularly one like Donnie Iris. 1999 saw the release of an Iris collaborative project entitled Together Alone, featuring contributions from other regionally popular artists like Michael Stanley, Scott Blasey, B. E. Taylor and Joe Grushecky. J ] Their first album, Introducing the Jaggerz, was released in 1969. Mark: And everything about the Jaggerz also is in the documentary. I'm a huge Donnie Iris fan. And you said, I have my old glasses. And that was it. Tickets can be purchased through upmceventscenter.com/events/2023/donnie-iris-and-the-cruisers. We connect brands with social media talent to create quality sponsored content. Mark: And youre February 28, 1943? Anastasia Pantsios "I remember thinking I can't imagine myself being on stage at 60," he said. OK, I have a commemorative 1943 book. Donnie Iris is a member of the following lists: American rock singers, MCA Records artists and 1943 births. It amused me that so many people believed it was real. What does he consider the best, most successful, time of his career? 3:00 AM. When I met you, you had these little John Lennon wire rim glasses. The first true compilation album from the band was released in 2001 by their former label at MCA: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Donnie Iris, featuring material from the band's four MCA-released albums from the early 1980s. Donnie Iris's Life Path Number is 2 as per numerology, it means he is motivated by community, harmony, and relationships. Donnie Iris partner, spouse list. 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. "The time he spends with us is always good time," Mrs. Ierace said. Besides being a great small town, I guess youd call it, its got the sports that everybody likes, its got culture, its got the museums, anything. Book. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Mark: So, Ellwood City is going to honor you again on June 17, 2006. "Never," he says, shaking his head and smiling. The birthplace of Donnie Iris is Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, US. We never explored that side of your voice. You have permission to edit this article. Donnie Iris is ready to get back to performing after sitting idle for 16 months. "What it all comes down to is ratings." Ierace helped to engineer their third album, I Love My Music. Dave Amodie, Jimmy Evans, and I were in the group. Leah!" Trending. Pittsburgh-area rocker Donnie Iris is turning 80 and celebrating in style. At least, we think he was joking. [fetch instagram= display=posts show=2 ]. Today, he sits at a Formica table in the crowded eating area at Waite's Ice Cream in Patterson Township, talking with a visitor. 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. The 40s also brought us the Slinky, Velcro, Jeep, Tupperware and Frisbee. (Donnie uses Iris only as a stage name.) Dominic Ierace was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. Children. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. "I got books to figure out where to put my fingers," he recalled. Mark: I will look up who was born in 1943. Donnie Iris still rocking, ready for 80th birthday show, Several new businesses coming to Grove City area, Mercer County State Bank to open branch in down, upmceventscenter.com/events/2023/donnie-iris-and-the-cruisers, Texas to invest $100B in 10-year transportation plan, Teenager identified in fatal crash on Route 258 in Liberty Township, Grove City man dies after truck hits deer, Sample steps down as Grove City cross country coach, Pair accused of forcing woman to provide urine for drug test. This concert was known for featuring a four drummer lineup of current and previous drummers for the band; Kevin Valentine, Tommy Rich, Brice Foster and Mark Avsec's daughter Danna Avsec, who was the guest drummer. There may have wrong or outdated info, if you find so, please let us know by leaving a comment below. To some extent, success depends on a record company's commitment to promoting a record. After 20 years in the music business, he's still not quite sure what makes one record a hit and another a dud. Donnie Iris was born on the 28th of February, 1943. What is the Networth of Donnie Iris? Even though he's 80, Donnie doesn't act like it. "But beyond promotion somehow you strike a nerve in the public," Iris mused. The marital status of Donnie Iris is: Yet to update. which was used by their label MCA and the computer company Atari to form a cross-marketing promotion. Mark: Hey, if you would have been born on February 29th, one day later, then youd be a leap year baby. 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. What was the band after Donnie and the Donnelles? I used to play bass and sing his biggest hit "A-Leah" in my dad's band (literally at the top of my range if not higher). GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March. Theyre just a great, great bunch of people. Donnie Iris was back in the top 30. "If you call it having all your records hit the charts, then it would be now. In addition, he gained the nickname King Cool from this album in the later part of his career. And ask her if it was a TV show. It has been rough. The awards, begun in 2014, honor those who have made significant contributions to the Pittsburgh rock scene. Mark: We should mention that you are a cigar aficionado these days. He doesn't like to go out and do a lot of things." Mark: Who sang? Following the end of the war, it was the start of the Baby Boomer years and technology advancements such as the jet engine, nuclear fusion, radar, rocket technology and others later became the starting points for Space Exploration and Improved Air Travel. I think people will have a great time.. Donnie: Mom, Mark Avsec says hello. Iris remembers his family his father and mother also were raised in Ellwood City and he has a sister, Caren always had a dog and frequently visited Cascade Park in New Castle and Idora Park in Youngstown. Help us build our profile of Donnie Iris! "Once you're done, it's pretty much out of your hands. He is 42 years old; gray strands dot the black curls surrounding his face. It started at the Ierace home in Ellwood City, where in his childhood Donnie would sit on the piano bench and sing while his mother, Carrie, played the piano. He is a celebrity rock singer. Thats a great place to play, he said. "It is sad," Iris said of the current state of radio programming. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said in a written parliamentary answer on Thursday (2 March) that the couple had initially . CelebsMoney has recently updated Donnie Iriss net worth. My Dad bought me my first guitar when I was in the 11th grade. Well when that happened, I knew it wasnt for me, and I started practicing more and decided to leave Slippery Rock after about two and a half years and thats when we founded the Jaggerz.. In an attractive brick-and-cedar Patterson Township home, the man who once appeared on stage wearing nothing but his briefs leads the life of a middle-class father. Donnie Iris (born Dominic Ierace, February 28, 1943)[1][2][3] is an American rock musician known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers.