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Wild Cherry (band)

From Alfawiki
Wild Cherry
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1970 in Mingo Junction, Ohio, United States
FounderRob Parissi
Defunct1979
Headquarters
Mingo Junction, Ohio
,
United States
ProductsStudio albums, singles
Number of employees
Various band members over time

Wild Cherry was a funk rock group originating from Mingo Junction, Ohio, established in 1970. Throughout their nine-year tenure, they released four studio albums and experienced multiple personnel changes, with Rob Parissi remaining the only constant member.

Their debut album, titled Wild Cherry (1976), enjoyed significant commercial acclaim, reaching number five on the Billboard 200 chart. It included the hit single "Play That Funky Music", which climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured top ten positions internationally. Although later singles and albums—Electrified Funk (1977) and I Love My Music (1978)—managed to chart, they did not replicate the initial success. The band dissolved following their fourth release, Only the Wild Survive (1979).

Despite a brief period of worldwide recognition, Wild Cherry is predominantly remembered as a one-hit wonder for "Play That Funky Music," one of two platinum-certified achievements alongside their first album.

Initial formations (1970–1974)

Rob Parissi, serving as lead vocalist and guitarist, founded Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, hailing from the steel-producing community of Mingo Junction, Ohio. The band's name was inspired by a box of cough drops. Their early performances took place throughout the Ohio Valley, the northern panhandle of West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The founding lineup featured Ben Difabbio (drums, vocals), Louie Osso (guitar, vocals), Larry Brown (bass, vocals), Larry Mader (keyboard, vocals), and Ron Vallera (guitar, backing vocals). Over time, Osso, Brown, Mader, and Vallera left the group and were replaced by Parissi's cousin Coogie Stoddart (guitar, vocals) and Joe Buchmelter (bass), who was shortly succeeded by Bucky Lusk.

In the early 1970s, Wild Cherry issued recordings on their independent label such as "You Can Be High (But Lay Low)" and "Something Special On Your Mind" (1971), focusing on straightforward rock sounds. Subsequently, they signed with Brown Bag Records, owned by Terry Knight, creating demos and singles distributed through United Artists Records, including "Get Down" (1973) and "Show Me Your Badge" (1973).

Following a brief disbandment, Parissi reassembled Wild Cherry in 1975.

Subsequent lineups (1975–1979)

The revamped lineup comprised Bryan Bassett (guitar/vocals), Allen Wentz (bass/synthesizer/vocals), Ronald Beitle (drums), alongside Parissi.[1] As disco music surged in popularity, the band was encouraged to incorporate more dance-oriented material. Motivated by a fan's remark, Parissi composed "Play That Funky Music," which was originally intended as the B-side to a cover of the Commodores' "I Feel Sanctified." The studio engineer Ken Hamann connected them with Sweet City Records—distributed by Epic/CBS—which signed Wild Cherry and promoted "Play That Funky Music" as the lead single.[2][3]

Released in 1976, "Play That Funky Music" reached number one on both the Billboard R&B and pop charts.[1] Both the single and their debut album attained platinum certification.[1] Wild Cherry received Billboard’s Best Pop Group award for that year, an American Music Award for Top R&B Single, along with two Grammy nominations recognizing Best New Vocal Group and Best R&B Performance.[1]

While "Play That Funky Music" stood out as the album’s major hit, "Hot to Trot" achieved modest international attention. Keyboardist Mark Avsec contributed to their first album and soon became an official member. Nevertheless, follow-up albums—Electrified Funk (1977), which included the single "Baby Don't You Know" reminiscent of their signature style; I Love My Music (1978); and Only the Wild Survive (1979)—did not generate top 40 hits or notable commercial success. The group ultimately disbanded near the end of 1979.[3]

Coogie Stoddart returned for touring during Electrified Funk, participated in live recordings on I Love My Music, toured in support of that album but left prior to recording Only the Wild Survive.

Post-breakup era (1980–present)

  • In the early 1980s, Mark Avsec joined forces with Donnie Iris (formerly of the Jaggerz) to create Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. Prior to this, Iris had contributed to Wild Cherry’s last album. Their repertoire featured popular tracks such as "Ah! Leah!". Additionally, Avsec collaborated with fellow Cruiser Kevin Valentine under the name Cellarful of Noise, producing two albums in 1985. Another notable Avsec-written song, "She Don't Know Me", initially intended for La Flavour (later known as "Fair Warning"), became one of Bon Jovi’s early successes. A legal dispute involving "Ah! Leah!" motivated Avsec to pursue a career in copyright law.
  • Allen Wentz relocated to New York City and established himself as a sought-after session synthesizer expert, contributing to recordings by artists such as Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, and Cyndi Lauper.
  • Bryan Bassett transitioned into roles as a producer and engineer at King Snake Studio located in Sanford, Florida. His performance credits include stints with Foghat and Molly Hatchet, and he held a position as a board governor for the Florida Chapter of NARAS.
  • Rob Parissi moved to Miami in 1979, where he assembled a touring ensemble featuring Bobby Caldwell. By 1980, Parissi had settled in New York City, collaborating with members of Billy Squier’s band, co-writing material alongside Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Kent, and co-producing the Dedication album in partnership with Gary U.S. Bonds and Bruce Springsteen. The track "This Little Girl (Is Mine)" from that album sold over half a million copies, granting Parissi another gold record. Throughout the 2010s, he has been based in Florida, concentrating on adult contemporary and smooth jazz genres, highlighted by his vocal record titled "The Real Deal".
On August 11, 2013, Parissi’s birthplace of Mingo Junction, Ohio honored him by renaming its longest street Rob Parissi Boulevard and declaring August 11 as Rob Parissi Day. Together with his wife, he founded a scholarship fund at Indian Creek High School and organizes an annual charity event.
  • Ron Beitle (1954–2017) was active with various rock groups including Nied's Hotel Band from Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. He passed away in 2017.

Musical style

Wild Cherry’s sound has been characterized by genres such as funk rock, blue-eyed soul, disco, and R&B. Initially, the band was established within the hard rock genre.

Final lineup

  • Rob Parissi – guitar, vocals (1970–1979)
  • Donnie Iris – guitar, vocals (1978–1979)
  • Cooke Michalchick – bass, vocals (1978–1979)
  • Ronald Beitle – drums, percussion (1975–1979)
  • Mark Avsec – keyboards (1975–1979)

Former members

  • Ben Difabbio – drums, vocals (1970–1975)
  • Louie Osso – guitar, vocals (1970–1973)
  • Larry Brown – bass, vocals (1970–1973)
  • Coogie Stoddart – guitar, vocals (1973–1975, 1977–78)
  • Joe Buchmelter – bass (1973)
  • Bucky Lusk – bass (1973–1975)
  • Allen Wentz – bass, synthesizer, vocals (1975–1978)
  • Bryan Bassett – guitar (1975–1978)
  • Bobby Pizzoferrato – bass (1980s–1990s)

Studio albums

Studio albums with notable chart rankings
Year Album US
 US
R&B
 NLD
 NOR
 Certification
1976 Wild Cherry 5 1 12 17
1977 Electrified Funk 51 33 — —
1978 I Love My Music 84 54 — —
1979 Only the Wild Survive — — — —
"—" indicates albums that did not enter the charts.

Compilation albums

Singles

1978 1979
Selected singles with chart rankings and certifications
Year Album US
 US
R&B
 CAN
 BEL
(FL)
 GER
 NLD
 NZ
 UK
 Certifications
1976 "I Feel Sanctified"
"Play That Funky Music" 1 1 2 6 42 4 4 7
"Baby Don't You Know" "" "43" "41" "55"
"Hot to Trot" "Electrified Funk" "95" "62" "17"
"Hold On (With Strings)" "Electrified Funk" "61" "78"
"I Love My Music" "I Love My Music" "69" "49" "70"
"Try a Piece of My Love" "Only the Wild Survive"

See also

Sources

External links

  • [ Allmusic Profile]
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bogdanov2003
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named harrison1976
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named arena2016
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