{"id":232466,"date":"2026-07-01T03:47:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T03:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/232466\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T03:47:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T03:47:30","slug":"ellwood-city-festival-to-feature-the-jaggerz-six-decades-of-harmony-soul-and-western-pennsylvania-pride-ellwood-city-pa-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/232466\/","title":{"rendered":"Ellwood City Festival to Feature The Jaggerz: Six Decades of Harmony, Soul, and Western Pennsylvania Pride \u2013 Ellwood City, PA news"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For 60 years, The Jaggerz have been a staple of the Western Pennsylvania music scene, blending R&amp;B, soul, rock, and Top 40 favorites into a sound that has endured across generations, and they will take the stage on Saturday, July 4, at 8 p.m. at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Foods, and Entertainment Festival.<\/p>\n<p>Since forming in 1965, the band has recorded four albums and 11 singles, building a legacy that stretches from local clubs in the tri-state area to national chart success with their signature hit, \u201cThe Rapper.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The story of The Jaggerz began when musicians from three different area bands came together to form a new group. Among those involved in the early years was Donnie Iris, the Ellwood City native who would later become one of the region\u2019s most celebrated rock performers. According to lead vocalist and bass guitarist Jimmie Ross, the band has remained rooted in the tri-state area throughout its long history.<\/p>\n<p>The group\u2019s name often sparks curiosity. While many people assume it has something to do with Mick Jagger, Ross says that is not the case. The name comes from a Western Pennsylvania expression. In Beaver County, \u201cjaggers\u201d are the thorny burrs that cling to clothing when walking through the woods. The musicians thought it sounded like a memorable and distinctive name, and it stuck.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/720805192_1737189553909354_7495892175945805319_n.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-69374\" class=\" wp-image-69374\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/720805192_1737189553909354_7495892175945805319_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1068\" height=\"1107\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-69374\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot<\/p>\n<p>The Band\u2019s Evolution<\/p>\n<p>From their earliest days, The Jaggerz developed a sound heavily influenced by classic R&amp;B. Ross recalls, \u201cYears ago our original inspiration was the Temptations and the Four Tops. That\u2019s what we liked and the kind of music we started with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That influence helped shape a catalog that includes both cover songs and original material. Their biggest success came with \u201cThe Rapper,\u201d the song that introduced The Jaggerz to audiences nationwide. The song became a major hit and remains the band\u2019s signature recording. Ross recently shared another interesting connection to the song\u2019s legacy: a glimpse of Billboard magazine appearing in the upcoming Michael Jackson film shows \u201cThe Rapper\u201d sitting at No. 24 on the Billboard Top 100 chart.<\/p>\n<p>The Jaggerz\u2019 journey to national recognition began after years of relentless performing. According to the band\u2019s official history, the group played clubs seven nights a week, developed a strong following throughout the region, and eventually signed its first recording contract with Gamble Records in Philadelphia. Their debut album, Introducing the Jaggerz, produced regional hits including \u201cBaby I Love You\u201d and \u201cGotta Find My Way Back Home.\u201d Over the years, the band released four albums while continuing to perform for loyal audiences throughout the region.<\/p>\n<p>The group\u2019s reputation as a live act also led to opportunities to share stages with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Over the years, The Jaggerz have opened for Diana Ross, The Beach Boys, Herman\u2019s Hermits, and The Rolling Stones.<\/p>\n<p>Present Success<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s lineup continues the tradition established by the original members. According to the band\u2019s official website, The Jaggerz currently feature:<\/p>\n<p>Jimmie Ross \u2013 Lead Vocals and Bass Guitar<br \/>\nHermie Granati \u2013 Keyboards and Vocals<br \/>\nBuddy Schneider \u2013 Lead Guitar and Vocals<br \/>\nPaul Martello \u2013 Drums and Vocals<br \/>\nChris Patarini \u2013 Saxophone<br \/>\nRay Falcsik \u2013 Bass Guitar<\/p>\n<p>Ross points to one quality above all others when asked what makes the band special.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHarmonies,\u201d he says. \u201cWe have a great harmony. We always have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That harmony remains a major reason audiences continue to connect with the group after six decades.<\/p>\n<p>The Jaggerz have become especially popular at community festivals and local celebrations. They are regular performers at the Ellwood City Festival, where they have appeared for the past decade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe crowds are always big for us and everyone seems to like the songs we do,\u201d Ross says. \u201cWe\u2019ve played the Festival in Ellwood City for the last 10 years, and we are really looking forward to it again this year. The people are so nice there and we always get a big crowd. We\u2019ve made some great friends there over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond Ellwood City, the band regularly performs at events including the San Rocco Festival, the Ambridge festival, Green Valley Park in Rochester, and Hopewell Park.<\/p>\n<p>Fans attending a Jaggerz performance can expect a full musical experience that celebrates the group\u2019s extensive catalog.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverything we do is special,\u201d Ross says. \u201cThey should expect to hear everything off of our albums.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Even after six decades together, the band still has a few dream opportunities in mind. Asked which artists they would most like to open for, Ross quickly names two legendary acts: Chicago and Hall &amp; Oates.<\/p>\n<p>For a band that began in Western Pennsylvania in 1965 and remains active today, longevity is no accident. The Jaggerz have built their reputation through strong musicianship, timeless R&amp;B influences, memorable original songs, and the vocal harmonies that have become their trademark. Whether performing their classic hit \u201cThe Rapper\u201d or revisiting deep cuts from their albums, they continue to bring the same energy and enthusiasm that first won over audiences 60 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>And for fans across the tri-state area, The Jaggerz remain not just a band, but a cherished part of the region\u2019s musical heritage.<\/p>\n<p>Connect With The Band<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thejaggerz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Follow the Band on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@thejaggerz386\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jaggerz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Visit their Website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/726307489_1387300619895786_8944355631531603956_n.jpeg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-69314 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/726307489_1387300619895786_8944355631531603956_n.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"865\" height=\"1298\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For 60 years, The Jaggerz have been a staple of the Western Pennsylvania music scene, blending R&amp;B, soul,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":203048,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-232466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-headlines","tag-pennsylvania-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=232466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232466\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203048"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=232466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=232466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}