The Jaggerz
| The Jaggerz | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Jaggers Jimmie Ross and the Jaggerz |
| Origin | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | R&B, pop, rock |
| Years active | 1964–1977 1989–present |
| Labels |
Gamble Records (1968-1969) Kama Sutra Records (1969-1973) Wooden Nickel Records (1975-1976) |
| Associated acts | The Tri-Vels/Donnie and the Donnells Gary and the Jewel Tones Wild Cherry Donnie Iris and the Cruisers The Skyliners Cooper & Ross |
| Website | http://www.jaggerz.com/ |
| Members |
Jimmie Ross Benny Faiella Hermie Granati Paul Martello Chris Patarini Dennis McAbee |
| Past members |
Dominic Ierace Bill Maybray (deceased) Thom Davies Jim Pugliano (deceased) Larry Lorey Frank Czuri |
The Jaggerz are an American R&B/pop/rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They came to national attention with their single "The Rapper" which was released on the Kama Sutra label. "The Rapper" was #1 in the Record World Charts and #2 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1970. Having sold over one million copies the recording received a gold record awarded by the R.I.A.A..
The band's name derives from the Pittsburgh English slang term, "jagger bush," meaning a thorny bush. They were managed by The Skyliners manager, Joe Rock.
While attending college at Slippery Rock State College, Donnie Iris (birth name Dominic Ierace) started a band called the Tri-Vels. The band became known as Donnie and the Donnells when the line up increased from three members to four. Shortly after dropping out of college Iris found out that a band called Gary and the Jewel Tones, of which Jimmie Ross was a member, needed a new guitarist. This gave birth to a new band called the "Jaggers." Forming around 1964, they began playing night clubs and other venues for the next few years gathering a respectable following in the region.
In 1968, the Jaggerz signed with Gamble Records. The legendary Philadelphia soul music team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff produced their debut album which was recorded in Philadelphia. While in the early stages of recording the album, Jimmie Ross saw a magazine advertisement featuring another band called "The Jaggers." In order to avoid confusion, manager Joe Rock suggested that the "s" in "Jaggers" be changed to a "z". In 1969, their debut album, Introducing the Jaggerz, was released. It is a blue-eyed soul album featuring the Jaggerz original song (That's Way) Baby I Love You, the Ken Gamble tune "Together" and "Gotta Find My Way Back Home", written by Melvin & Mervin Steals who later wrote "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" for the Spinners. Achieving most of its airplay in the group's native western Pennsylvania, it was a moderate success.
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