{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Rob Parissi | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Robert Parissi | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|12|29|df=yes}} | birth_place = Mingo Junction, Ohio, U.S. | origin = Steubenville, Ohio, U.S. | instrument = {{flatlist| * Vocals * guitar }} | genre = {{flatlist| * Funk * funk rock * {{nowrap|blue-eyed soul}} * disco * R&B }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * Singer * songwriter * musician }} | years_active = 1970–present | label = | past_member_of = Wild Cherry }}
'''Robert Parissi''' (born 29 December 1950) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as frontman for the American funk group Wild Cherry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qGxFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XLwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4716,87662&dq=rob+parissi&hl=en|title=Vanilla Ice's style freezes|date=1 February 1991|work=The Telegraph-Herald|page=1|accessdate=29 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="Gil Kaufman">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1608250/idol-songs-story-play-that-funky-music.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106122408/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1608250/idol-songs-story-play-that-funky-music.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2012|title=Wild Cherry had a huge hit with the song during the 1970s disco era.|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=1 April 2009|publisher=MTV|page=1|accessdate=29 January 2011}}</ref> He also wrote the group's only hit, the 1976 chart-topping "Play That Funky Music".<ref name="Deanna R. Adams">{{cite book|last=Adams|first=Deanna R. |title=Cleveland's Rock and Roll Roots |date=13 January 2010|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-7786-9|page=108}}</ref> He was raised in the steel mill town of Mingo Junction, Ohio. He graduated from Mingo High School in 1968. Rob formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio, one mile north of Mingo Junction along the Ohio River. The band played the Ohio Valley region, Wheeling, West Virginia and the rest of the Northern West Virginia panhandle, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
After Wild Cherry disbanded in 1979 without another major hit, Parissi became a producer and dedicated himself to adult contemporary music. In 1980, he toured with Bobby Caldwell. He writes and records smooth jazz and has collaborated with Steve Oliver and Will Donato.
== Discography ==
=== With Wild Cherry === * ''Wild Cherry'', 1976 * ''Electrified Funk'', 1977 * ''I Love My Music'', 1978 * ''Only the Wild Survive'', 1979
=== Solo === * ''Late Bloomer'', 2008 * ''Boca Ciega Bay'', 2010 * ''Ocean Sunset'', 2011 * ''East Coast Vibe'', 2011 * ''The Real Deal'', 2012
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parissi, Rob}} Category:American funk singers Category:American funk guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Living people Category:1950 births Category:Wild Cherry (band) members Category:People from Mingo Junction, Ohio Category:Guitarists from Ohio