Jaggerz

Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny Best known for their 1970 smash "The Rapper," the Jaggerz were formed in Pittsburgh during the mid-'60s by singer/guitarist Dominic Ierace, guitarist Benny Faiella, bassists Jimmy Ross and Billy Maybray, keyboardist Thom Davies, and drummer Jim Pugliano. After earning a fervent following on the local club circuit, the group ultimately signed to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's label Gamble Records to issue their 1969 debut LP, Introducing the Jaggerz. When the record tanked, the band signed to Kama Sutra for 1970's We Went to Different Schools Together, falling just shy of topping the charts with "The Rapper." The single was the Jaggerz's lone chart hit, however, and they were soon reduced to again hitting the local club scene. After one final LP, 1975's Come Again, the group disbanded. Frontman Ierace promptly changed his name to Donnie Iris and joined Wild Cherry, scoring a major disco-era hit with "Play That Funky Music" before going on to mount a solo career. In 1998, Ross, Faiella, and Pugliano teamed up with Dennis McAbee (guitar), Jamie Peck (saxophone), Hermie Granati (keyboards, vocals), and David Granati (guitar) to record And the Band Played On..., an album comprising Jaggerz favorites and some new songs. Re-Rapped by Request followed in 2001, and the band continued to be sporadically active during the 2000s and 2010s, releasing their sixth album, The Walk, in 2014.