Donnie Iris
Encyclopedia
Donnie Iris is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock musician known for his work with The Jaggerz
The jaggerz
The Jaggerz are a pop/rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, often considered a one-hit wonder because their only major success was the single "The Rapper", written by Donnie Iris...
and Wild Cherry
Wild Cherry (band)
Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band best known for their funk song "Play That Funky Music".-History:Rob Parissi was raised in the steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of...
during the 1970s, and for his solo albums during the 1980s. He wrote the #2 Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
hit "The Rapper
The Rapper
"The Rapper" is a song by The Jaggerz, written by band member Dominic Ierace, better known as Donnie Iris. Released as a single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1970 for selling over a million copies of the record.- Covers :"The Rapper" has...
" with the Jaggerz, and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music
Play That Funky Music
"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
." 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.
He has released eleven studio albums, one EP, two live albums, and two compilations. He also performed on the first three Jaggerz albums and the third and fourth Wild Cherry albums.
Early life
Born Dominic Ierace in Ellwood City, PennsylvaniaEllwood City, Pennsylvania
Ellwood City is a borough in Beaver and Lawrence counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Ellwood City is 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles south by southeast of New Castle...
, 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
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
but later got back into singing while in college. Donnie learned how to sing from his mother and then from Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, and was also a self-taught guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, starting at about age 15.
1960s
While attending Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public, master's-level university that offers some doctoral programs in cooperation with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Both institutions are members of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education...
, 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
The jaggerz
The Jaggerz are a pop/rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, often considered a one-hit wonder because their only major success was the single "The Rapper", written by Donnie Iris...
(originally The "Jaggers"). Their first album, Introducing the Jaggerz
Introducing the Jaggerz
Introducing the Jaggerz is the debut album by Pittsburgh rock/pop band The Jaggerz, released in 1969 .- Track listing :# "Gotta Find My Way Back Home"# " Baby I Love You"# "Give a Little Love"# "What Now My Love"...
, was released in 1969. It was the first album to feature Iris.
1970s
Iris first came to national prominence as the lead singer of The Jaggerz, which became famous for its #2 hit "The RapperThe Rapper
"The Rapper" is a song by The Jaggerz, written by band member Dominic Ierace, better known as Donnie Iris. Released as a single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1970 for selling over a million copies of the record.- Covers :"The Rapper" has...
", written by Iris and included on their second album (We Went to Different Schools Together
We Went to Different Schools Together
We Went to Different Schools Together is the second album by Pittsburgh rock/pop band The Jaggerz, released in 1970 . The album includes the groups' only major successful single, "The Rapper."- Track listing :...
, 1970). The group released one more album, Come Again
Come Again (The Jaggerz album)
Come Again is the third album by Pittsburgh pop/rock band The Jaggerz, released in 1975 . This would be the groups' last album before their thirteen-year breakup. They would not record another album for another twenty-three years.- Track listing :# "I'll Be Okay in the Morning" # "Love Music" Come...
, but it failed to produce any more hits. After The Jaggerz broke up in 1976, Iris toured with Wild Cherry
Wild Cherry (band)
Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band best known for their funk song "Play That Funky Music".-History:Rob Parissi was raised in the steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of...
, whose 1976 hit "Play That Funky Music
Play That Funky Music
"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
" had made them a hot property into the end of the decade. He recorded two albums with Wild Cherry, I Love My Music
I Love My Music
I Love My Music is the third studio album, released in 1978 by Wild Cherry. It includes "Don't Stop, Get Off," a single with no lyrics outside the title itself, sung in a strident voice, backed by horns playing a funky riff...
in 1978 and Only the Wild Survive
Only the Wild Survive
Only the Wild Survive is an album by Wild Cherry, released in 1979. Their fourth studio album, this would be their last before breaking up the same year.- Track listing :# "Try a Piece of My Love" - 4:28...
in 1979. It was during this period that he became acquainted with his future partner Mark Avsec
Mark Avsec
Mark Avsec is an American rock keyboardist / songwriter / producer, and most recently copyright lawyer who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris & the Cruisers since 1979...
, now playing keyboards for Wild Cherry. Unfortunately, Wild Cherry was unable to duplicate their previous success and disbanded by the end of the decade. Becoming good friends, Donnie and Mark decided to form a project together and the two began writing songs. Their first release saw the disco-influenced single "Bring on the Eighties" backed by the cover song "Because of You
Because of You (1940 song)
"Because of You" is a popular song. It was written by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson in 1940. It was used in the 1951 film I Was an American Spy....
" in 1979, however it failed to garner attention. Iris and Avsec decided to go in a harder direction for their next release and returned to the studio with guitarist Marty Lee Hoenes
Marty Lee Hoenes
Marty Lee Hoenes is an American rock musician who is best known as the lead guitarist for the Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. He is also a freelance artist and designer, having designed many of the band's albums. He currently resides in North Canton, Ohio....
, bassist Albritton McClain
Albritton McClain
Albritton McClain is an American rock guitarist who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. McClain played the bass guitar on the band's early albums during the 1980s.-References:...
and drummer Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine is an American rock drummer who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. Valentine played drums on all of the band's early albums during the 1980s....
, who at the time was in the band Breathless
Jonah Koslen
Jonah Koslen is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known for his work with the Michael Stanley Band and Breathless in the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:...
with Avsec, to record his first full length album. This line-up would remain the same for the next five years.
1980s
Iris' first album, Back on the Streets, was released in July 1980 on the small Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
-based Midwest Records. With the track "Ah! Leah!
Ah! Leah!
"Ah! Leah!" is a song by American rock musician Donnie Iris from his 1980 album Back on the Streets. The song was released as a single in late-1980 and reached #29 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #19 on the U.S...
" receiving airplay in Boston, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
took notice and quickly signed Iris to a five album deal and re-released the album nationally in October. The first single "Ah! Leah!" peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in February 1981 and became one of the most frequently played AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
tracks of the year, and the album reached #57 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. In addition, the band launched a national tour to promote the album and its follow-up during the summer of 1981.
The follow-up album, King Cool
King Cool
King Cool is the second album by Donnie Iris released in 1981 .-Track listing:#"Sweet Merilee" #"The Promise" #"Pretender" #"Love Is Like a Rock"...
, credited to Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, was released in August 1981 and garnered the band more AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
success, with "Love Is Like a Rock
Love is Like a Rock
"Love Is Like a Rock" is a song by American rock musician Donnie Iris from his 1981 album King Cool. The song was released as a single and reached #37 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #9 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart...
" reaching #9 on Billboard's Top Tracks chart. In addition, he gained the nickname King Cool from this album in the later part of his career. However, the album itself charted less successfully, at #84. After the long tour promoting their two previous albums, the band continued songwriting and in the fall of 1982 released The High and the Mighty
The High And The Mighty (album)
The High and the Mighty is the third solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1982 .-Track listing:#"Tough World" – 3:48#"I Wanna Tell Her" – 4:18#"Glad All Over" – 3:09...
. The album contained the single "Tough World
Tough World
"Tough World" is a song by American rock musician Donnie Iris from his 1982 album The High and the Mighty. The song was released as a single the same year and reached #57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #26 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.-Charts:...
", but only charted at #180, marking a decline in his success, but the band still was determined to release new material.
Their next album one year later, Fortune 410
Fortune 410
Fortune 410 is the fourth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1983 .-Track listing:#"Human Evolution" #"Stagedoor Johnny"...
, contained the hit single "Do You Compute?
Do You Compute?
"Do You Compute?" is a song by American rock musician Donnie Iris from his 1983 album Fortune 410. The song was released as a single the same year and reached #64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #20 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.-Charts:...
", which was used by their label MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
and the computer company Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
to form a cross-marketing promotion. Because the promotional partnership was secured prior to release of the album, it was possible to use the Atari 1200 XL Home Computer in poster photography, as well as in the video clip for "Do You Compute?", which aired on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. The title of the album is a reference to the trademark glasses Iris wears, Fortune 410
Fortune 410
Fortune 410 is the fourth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1983 .-Track listing:#"Human Evolution" #"Stagedoor Johnny"...
s. The combination of marketing and the promotion for its hit single allowed the album to chart higher than its predecessor. The next album, No Muss...No Fuss
No Muss...No Fuss
No Muss...No Fuss is the fifth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1985 .- Track listing :# "Injured in the Game of Love" – 3:26 # "10th Street" – 3:42...
, continued the trend two years later in 1985, by charting at #115 with the single "Injured in the Game of Love
Injured in the Game of Love
"Injured in the Game of Love" is a song by American rock musician Donnie Iris from his 1985 album No Muss...No Fuss. The song was released as a single the same year and reached #91 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #28 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.-Charts:-External links:**...
". Both of these albums were more critically acclaimed than The High and the Mighty.
In 1985, just prior to the release of No Muss...No Fuss, the band began to split into different directions. Drummer Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine is an American rock drummer who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. Valentine played drums on all of the band's early albums during the 1980s....
and bassist Albritton McClain
Albritton McClain
Albritton McClain is an American rock guitarist who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. McClain played the bass guitar on the band's early albums during the 1980s.-References:...
left to join a new group, The Innocent
The Innocent (band)
The Innocent was the band Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails played with after leaving Option 30. He then moved on to the Exotic Birds before creating his own band, Nine Inch Nails. The other members were Alan Greenblatt , Kevin Valentine, Rodney Cajka and Albritton McClain...
, whose members included future Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
main man Trent Reznor
Trent Reznor
Michael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
. That same year, keyboardist Mark Avsec
Mark Avsec
Mark Avsec is an American rock keyboardist / songwriter / producer, and most recently copyright lawyer who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris & the Cruisers since 1979...
, also a longtime friend of Iris, released a solo project under the moniker Cellarful of Noise
Cellarful of Noise
Cellarful of Noise was a 1980s rock band featuring Mark Avsec and Kevin Valentine, both members of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. They released two albums...
. Even after releasing the eponymous debut album that same year, however, the two 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. The band returned to the studio in 1986 and recorded a new album titled Cruise Control, however, a lawsuit with the band's former label MCA resulted in the shelving of that album pending the resolution of that lawsuit. It still not been released as of 2007 although some material is thought to have been released on subsequent releases. Since the band seemed to have hit a road block, Iris partnered with Avsec on the second Cellarful of Noise album, Magnificent Obsession, which was released in 1988.
1990s
Donnie Iris and the Cruisers returned to the studio in 1992 to release their first album containing new material since 1985. Titled Out of the BlueOut of the Blue (Donnie Iris album)
Out of the Blue is the sixth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1992 .-Track listing:#"Ah! Leah!" – 3:44 #"Love Whispers" – 3:22...
, the album was a compilation album containing older hits and new material. It failed to have any impact on the charts, however. Still, the band toured throughout the rest of the year around Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and attracted newer and younger fans from the area. The band released another album the following year, Footsoldier in the Moonlight
Footsoldier in the Moonlight
Footsoldier in the Moonlight is the seventh solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1993 .-Track listing:#"Kamakazi" #"International Infliction of Emotional Distress"...
. At this point, the band underwent yet another line-up change as bassist Scott Alan and drummer Tommy Rich
Tommy Rich
Thomas Richardson , better known by his ring name, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a professional wrestler. He is best known for his wrestling career in Georgia and Memphis throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:...
departed the group, and were replaced by Scott Williamson and Steve McConnell respectively.
In the summer of 1994, original members Albritton McClain and Kevin Valentine temporarily reunited with Iris, Avsec and Hoenes to record the first album of all new material by the original line-up in nearly 10 years. During recording, the band performed one reunion show together at Conneaut Lake
Conneaut Lake
Conneaut Lake is the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania. It is located in western Crawford County near a town with the same name. During the summer season, it is heavily populated with people vacationing to the lake area, some from the area spending time in their houses on the lake, and many...
. The album Poletown
Poletown (album)
Poletown is the eighth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1997 .-Track listing:#"Poletown"#"How You Gonna Mend It?"#"Valerie"#"I Am Your Eyes"#"The Stalker"#"Don't Want to Be a Hero"#"I Lie Down"...
was released in 1997 and was notable for its shift in style to a mature blues influenced sound.
In 1998, the band released their first live album. A collection of tracks played at Nick's Fat City, a popular Pittsburgh nightclub, Live! At Nick's Fat City
Live! At Nick's Fat City
Live! At Nick's Fat City is the ninth solo album and first live album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1998...
was the first to feature bass guitarist Paul Goll who had been touring with the band since 1995 along with drummer Tommy Rich. 1999 saw the release of an Iris collaborative project entitled Together Alone
Together Alone (Donnie Iris album)
Together Alone is the tenth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1999 .-Track listing:#"Amazing Grace" #"The Promise" #"Lay with Me" #"Together Alone"...
. After Alone, which featured a softer side of Iris's vocals, the band took a break from releasing new material but continued to perform regularly through the decade.
2000s
The first true compilation album by the band was released in 2001, The Best of Donnie Iris. In 2004, the band celebrated its 25th anniversary with a new album, 25 Years, and performed live at the Chevrolet AmphitheatreChevrolet Amphitheatre
The Trib Total Media Amphitheatre at Station Square is an outdoor music pavilion at Station Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The venue has a seating capacity of 5,000 people. In January 2007 it was announced that the amphitheatre would be changing its name to The Amphitheatre at Sandcastle and...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
for 4,000 people. This concert was known for featuring a four drummer lineup of current and previous drummers for the band; Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine
Kevin Valentine is an American rock drummer who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. Valentine played drums on all of the band's early albums during the 1980s....
, Tommy Rich, Brice Foster and Mark Avsec
Mark Avsec
Mark Avsec is an American rock keyboardist / songwriter / producer, and most recently copyright lawyer who is best known for being a member of Donnie Iris & the Cruisers since 1979...
's daughter Danna Avsec, who was the guest drummer. Since then, the band has used a three drummer line-up for several concerts.
The band's 2006 album, Ellwood City
Ellwood City (album)
Ellwood City is a studio album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 2006 as his thirteenth solo album.-Track listing:#"Little Black Dress" #"Soul Man"...
, is a tribute to Iris' hometown, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
Ellwood City is a borough in Beaver and Lawrence counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Ellwood City is 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles south by southeast of New Castle...
. June 17, 2006 was recognized throughout Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 91,108. The county was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003. The county seat is New Castle....
as Donnie Iris Day by Ellwood City Executive Council President Glenn Jones and Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Roy P. Meehan.
In recent years, Iris received special commendations and awards from United States Congresswoman Melissa Hart and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
state representative Frank LaGrotta.
Now a grandfather, Iris is still making music, and has unreleased material he hopes to make available. He currently works for a mortgage company in Wexford, PA.
Over the course of 2008-2009, King Cool Light was developed, after Mark Avsec had realized that "King Cool" sounded like the name of a refreshing beer. He later approached Iris and Marty Lee Hoenes, who both immediately liked the idea, giving birth to King Cool Limited. King Cool Light was unveiled on November 20, 2009, at Club Diesel in Pittsburgh during the band's 30th anniversary concert. Every case was sold out, but 25 more cases were brought in, which were also sold out.
The band's first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, You Can't Really Miss Me If I Never Go Away
You Can't Really Miss Me If I Never Go Away
You Can't Really Miss Me If I Never Go Away is the fourteenth solo album and the first EP by Donnie Iris, released in 2008 .- Track listing :# "Hard Spot" # "I Can't Really Miss You "...
, was released in 2008. It was followed in 2009 with their second live album, Ah! Live!
Ah! Live!
Ah! Live! is a solo album and the second live album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 2009 . Except for one studio recording, all of the songs were recorded at live concerts in Kittanning and Erie, Pennsylvania...
2010s
In an interview with Cleveland SceneCleveland Scene
The Cleveland Scene is an alternative weekly newspaper based in Cleveland, Ohio. The newspaper includes highlights of Cleveland-area arts, music, dining, and films, as well as classified advertising...
, Mark Avsec announced that the band's next project would be a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
album. Ah! Leluiah!
Ah! Leluiah!
Ah! Leluiah! is the eleventh studio album and the first Christmas album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released on November 18, 2010 . Overall, it is his sixteenth solo release...
was released on November 18, 2010. King Cool Light (Donnie's beer) was released in Ohio in July. Donnie says "Youngstown is really good to me, they buy the beer, and come to the concerts. I'm glad I've had this experience."
With The Jaggerz
- Introducing the JaggerzIntroducing the JaggerzIntroducing the Jaggerz is the debut album by Pittsburgh rock/pop band The Jaggerz, released in 1969 .- Track listing :# "Gotta Find My Way Back Home"# " Baby I Love You"# "Give a Little Love"# "What Now My Love"...
(1969) - We Went to Different Schools TogetherWe Went to Different Schools TogetherWe Went to Different Schools Together is the second album by Pittsburgh rock/pop band The Jaggerz, released in 1970 . The album includes the groups' only major successful single, "The Rapper."- Track listing :...
(1970) - Come AgainCome Again (The Jaggerz album)Come Again is the third album by Pittsburgh pop/rock band The Jaggerz, released in 1975 . This would be the groups' last album before their thirteen-year breakup. They would not record another album for another twenty-three years.- Track listing :# "I'll Be Okay in the Morning" # "Love Music" Come...
(1975)
Solo work
- Back on the Streets (1980) #57 US
- King CoolKing CoolKing Cool is the second album by Donnie Iris released in 1981 .-Track listing:#"Sweet Merilee" #"The Promise" #"Pretender" #"Love Is Like a Rock"...
(1981) #84 US - The High and the MightyThe High And The Mighty (album)The High and the Mighty is the third solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1982 .-Track listing:#"Tough World" – 3:48#"I Wanna Tell Her" – 4:18#"Glad All Over" – 3:09...
(1982) #180 US - Fortune 410Fortune 410Fortune 410 is the fourth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1983 .-Track listing:#"Human Evolution" #"Stagedoor Johnny"...
(1983) #127 US - No Muss...No FussNo Muss...No FussNo Muss...No Fuss is the fifth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1985 .- Track listing :# "Injured in the Game of Love" – 3:26 # "10th Street" – 3:42...
(1985) #115 US - Out of the BlueOut of the Blue (Donnie Iris album)Out of the Blue is the sixth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1992 .-Track listing:#"Ah! Leah!" – 3:44 #"Love Whispers" – 3:22...
(1992) - Footsoldier in the MoonlightFootsoldier in the MoonlightFootsoldier in the Moonlight is the seventh solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1993 .-Track listing:#"Kamakazi" #"International Infliction of Emotional Distress"...
(1993) - PoletownPoletown (album)Poletown is the eighth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1997 .-Track listing:#"Poletown"#"How You Gonna Mend It?"#"Valerie"#"I Am Your Eyes"#"The Stalker"#"Don't Want to Be a Hero"#"I Lie Down"...
(1997) - Live! At Nick's Fat CityLive! At Nick's Fat CityLive! At Nick's Fat City is the ninth solo album and first live album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1998...
(1998) - Together AloneTogether Alone (Donnie Iris album)Together Alone is the tenth solo album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 1999 .-Track listing:#"Amazing Grace" #"The Promise" #"Lay with Me" #"Together Alone"...
(1999) - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Donnie Iris (2001)
- 25 Years (2004)
- Ellwood CityEllwood City (album)Ellwood City is a studio album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 2006 as his thirteenth solo album.-Track listing:#"Little Black Dress" #"Soul Man"...
(2006) - You Can't Really Miss Me If I Never Go AwayYou Can't Really Miss Me If I Never Go AwayYou Can't Really Miss Me If I Never Go Away is the fourteenth solo album and the first EP by Donnie Iris, released in 2008 .- Track listing :# "Hard Spot" # "I Can't Really Miss You "...
(2008, EP) - Ah! Live!Ah! Live!Ah! Live! is a solo album and the second live album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released in 2009 . Except for one studio recording, all of the songs were recorded at live concerts in Kittanning and Erie, Pennsylvania...
(2009) - Ah! Leluiah!Ah! Leluiah!Ah! Leluiah! is the eleventh studio album and the first Christmas album by American rock singer Donnie Iris, released on November 18, 2010 . Overall, it is his sixteenth solo release...
(2010)
Song covers
Since the 1990s, Iris has done cover versionCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of various songs by various artists. The songs below are organized by which Donnie Iris and The Cruisers album they first appeared on.
Footsoldier in the Moonlight, 1993
- "Mercy Mercy MeMercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"Mercy Mercy Me " was the second single from Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, What's Going On. Following the breakthrough of the title track's success, the song, written solely by Gaye, became one of his most poignant anthems of sorrow regarding the environment...
", originally by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range.... - "Minnie the MoocherMinnie the Moocher"Minnie the Moocher" is a jazz song first recorded in 1931 by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, selling over 1 million copies. "Minnie the Moocher" is most famous for its nonsensical ad libbed lyrics . In performances, Calloway would have the audience participate by repeating each scat phrase in a...
", Cab CallowayCab CallowayCabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer.... - "Gloria", ThemThem (band)Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
Ah! Live!, 2009
- "Your TouchYour Touch"Your Touch" is a single from the The Black Keys fourth album, Magic Potion.The song was featured in the 2009 film Zombieland, episode 1 of Eastbound and Down, and runs during the opening scenes of the "Manic Monday" episode of the HBO series Entourage.-Track listing:# Your Touch # Strange Desire #...
", The Black KeysThe Black KeysThe Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S.... - "Hush", Billy Joe RoyalBilly Joe RoyalBilly Joe Royal is an American singer.-Biography:Born in Valdosta and raised in Marietta in 1942, Royal became a local star at Savannah, Georgia's Bamboo Ranch in the 1950s and 1960s...
Main line-up
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| (2008–present) |
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- Mark Tirabassi is the occasional drummer when Kevin Valentine is unavailable.