Wild Cherry (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Wild Cherry

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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Steubenville, Ohio, U.S.
Genre = Funk rock, Disco, R&B, Soul
Years_active = 1970–1979
Label = Epic, Brown Bag
Associated_acts = The Jaggerz, Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, Foghat, Molly Hatchet, Cellarful of Noise
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Rob Parissi
Mark Avsec
Bryan Bassett
Allen Wentz
Ronald Beitle
Donnie Iris

Wild Cherry was a funk/rock band that had a huge hit with the funk song "Play That Funky Music" in 1976.

History

Rob Parissi (lead vocals & guitar) was raised in the tough, diverse steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio [http://www.lucky-13.com/mj1/mingojct.html] . Parissi graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed his first band in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of Mingo Jct. along the Ohio River. The band's name "Wild Cherry" was selected off a box of cough drops while Rob was recuperating from a brief hospital stay. The band played the Ohio Valley region, the West Virginia panhandle, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The original lineup

Ben DiFabbio - Drums, Lead and background vocals - From Mingo Junction Ohio Louie Osso ---- Guitar, Lead and background vocals- From Steubenville, Ohio Larry Brown --- Bass, Lead and background vocals - From Weirton W Va Larry Mader --- Keyboards, Lead and background vocals - From East Sprinfield Ohioand of course Rob

After the original members broke up their were other members who also played before the big hitsuch as Rob's cousin (Coogie Stoddart - guitar, Lead and background vocals ) and (Joe Buchmelter on Bass)

A demo was produced in 1970 under the label Staehle-Tudor with the A side entitled: You Ain't Got Nobody. Several other records were released under their own label including You Can Be High (But Lay Low), date unknown; Something Special On Your Mind, 1971. The music at this stage was pure rock music, not funk. Wild Cherry eventually gained a record contract with Brown Bag Records. Several demos and singles were produced including and Get Down, 1973 (re-release of earlier self labeled demo); Voodoo Doll, 1975 and Show Me Your Badge, 1973. Voodoo Doll was produced and co-written by the prolific and successful songwriter Jeff Barry (of "The Monkeys" fame). Although Voodoo Doll (AM 45070) received distribution as far afield as Europe through A&M, it did not chart and no album was in sight.

The band broke up when a disillusioned Parissi left the music scene to become the manager of a local steakhouse. Rob quickly realized that the steak house gig was not going to "cut it - too tough." As his enthusiasm for the music eventually returned, Rob decided to give the business one last shot.

Soon after, Parissi re-formed the band with new musicians. The new lineup had Mark Avsec (keyboards), Bryan Bassett (guitar), Allen Wentz (bass guitar) and Ronald Beitle (drums & percussion). As the quintet began to perform publicly in an era dominated by disco, they were repeatedly asked by listeners to "play that funky music." Parissi was inspired to write a song that captured the "funky music-white boy theme." When the band went into the studio to record it, a friend of the studio engineer heard the song, was blown away by the potential hit, and brought the band to the attention of Epic Records, which then immediately signed the group. Epic suggested recording the song as an A-side instead of as the B-side to a cover version of the Commodores' "I Feel Sanctified," as had originally been planned.

"Play That Funky Music" became a huge hit when released in 1976, peaking at number one on both the Billboard R&B and pop charts. Both the single and Wild Cherry's self-titled debut album went platinum. The band was named Best Pop Group of the Year by Billboard, and received an American Music Award for Top R&B Single of the Year, as well as a pair of Grammy nominations for Best New Vocal Group and Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo that year, adding to their success. "I Feel Sanctified" was also released as a single form the first album.

Their 1977 album, "Electrified Funk" and 1978 album "I Love My Music" did not produce any top 20 hits, While their 1979 album "Only the Wild Survive" didn't produce a top 100 single.

U.S. billboard chart placements for singles from their 3 other albums:
* "Baby Don't You Know" (1977; peaked at #43)
* "Hot To Trot" (1977; peaked at #95)
* "Hold On" (1977; peaked at #61)
* "I Love My Music" (1978; peaked at #69).

"Hot to Trot" was a minor followup hit in some non U.S. markets.

Although it was never a chart hit, the song "1 2 3 Kind Of Love" had the right feel for the beach music clubs along the North and South Carolina coasts; it continues to be popular there today, and the song is included in the beach music anthology series by Ripete Records.

One musician who played with the band was guitarist/vocalist Donnie Iris (ex-The Jaggerz). Donnie was credited on their fourth and final album. Mark Avsec partnered up with Donnie following the demise of Wild Cherry to form The Cruisers.

Coogie Stoddart returned to perform with Wild Cherry beginning with the tour to support Electrified Funk. Coogie recorded the third album, I Love my Music, with the band. On that album is recorded one of Coogie's original songs, If You Want My Love, on which Coogie shares lead vocals with Rob Parissi. (Although the album jacket for I Love My Music states that all songs were written by Rob Parissi, that is incorrect. The album's label is correct.) Coogie Stoddart toured with the group in support of I Love My Music, but left before Only the Wild Survive was recorded.

Mark Avsec released a solo project under the moniker Cellarful of Noise in 1985.

Guitarist Bryan Bassett went on to a hard rocking career in the 90's with Foghat and Molly Hatchet. He continues to tour with Foghat.

Parissi later became a disk jockey in Wheeling, West Virginia.

"Play That Funky Music" was covered by the rock group ROXANNE in 1988 and was sampled by Vanilla Ice in 1990 (for which Parissi was not credited; he later won $500,000 in a copyright infringement lawsuit), and it continues to be a hit in dance clubs to this day. "Play that Funky Music" is regularly included on funk and disco compilations.

Discography

tudio Albums

* "Wild Cherry" (1976)
* "Electrified Funk" (1977)
* "I Love My Music" (1978)
* "Only the Wild Survive" (1979)

ingles

* "Show Me Your Badge/Bring Back the Fire" (1973)
* "Voodoo Doll/Because Your Love is Mine" (1975)
* "Play that Funky Music" (1976)
* "I Feel Sanctified" (1976)
* "Are You Boogieing Around On Your Daddy" (1977)
* " Baby Don't You Know" (1977)
* " Hold On (With Strings)" (1977)
* "Hot To Trot" (1977) - Also released as part of a double A side with "Play that Funky Music" in 1977
* "123 Kind of Love" (1978)
* "This Old Heart of Mine" (1978)
* "Don't Stop Get Off" (1978)
* "Try a Piece of My Love" (1979)

7" Promos

*"You Ain't Got Nobody" (1970)

*"Get Down" (1972)

*"Show Me Your Badge" - Double A Side

*"Voodoo Doll" (1975) - Double A Side

*"Hold On (With Strings)" (1977)

12" Promos

*"Don't Wait Too Long/Try A Piece Of My Love" (1979) 12"

Interviews

* "What's It All About" (1977) - Presbyterian Church Interview

heet Music

Several pieces of sheet music were published. In particular the whole of the first album was available published as one book. The original 1976 Hold On was also available as sheet music and featured the band on the cover.

Compilations

* "Play the Funk" (2000)
* "Super Hits" (2002)

Band members

*Rob Parissi - lead vocals, guitar (1970–1979)
*Mark Avsec - keyboards (1975–1979)
*Bryan Bassett - guitar (1975–1978)
*Ronald Beitle - drums, percussion (1975–1979)
*Donnie Iris - guitar, vocals (1978–1979)
*Coogie Stoddart - guitar, vocals (1973–1975) and (1977–78)
*Allen Wentz - bass (1975–1979)

External links

* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=11:2tkzu3u5an2k Allmusic Entry]