1. Jimmy Destri was born on James Mollica, April 13,1954 and is an American musician, and the original and longest-serving keyboardist for the band Blondie.
14 Facts About Jimmy Destri
1. 2.
Jimmy Destri's father was a novelist who wrote screenplays and eventually advertising copy to support his family while his mother was a housewife.
3.
Jimmy Destri has a sister, Donna Destri, who is a singer and did backing vocals for Blondie and Jimmy's own solo record.
4.
Jimmy Destri's uncle played drums for Joey Dee and the Starlighters.
5.
Jimmy Destri attended Catholic schools and went to Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School, but dropped out to form his first band.
6.
Jimmy Destri played keyboards in the rock band Blondie, and was one of the principal songwriters for the band along with Chris Stein and Debbie Harry.
7.
Jimmy Destri ceased touring with the band in 2004, but remained an official member for several more years.
8.
Jimmy Destri became interested in music in the late 1950s and early 1960s due to his uncle's being a drummer with Joey Dee and the Starlighters.
9.
Jimmy Destri formed his first band, the 86 Proof, in high school and they performed in local schools.
10.
Jimmy Destri played in a group named Milk and Cookies in the early 1970s, but was dismissed from the band just before they relocated to the UK.
11.
Jimmy Destri joined Blondie in 1975, using the Farfisa organ as his main instrument.
12.
Jimmy Destri produced Going Up by Joey Wilson for Modern Records, released in October 1980.
13.
Jimmy Destri produced and remixed material for artists such as Prince and INXS.
14.
Jimmy Destri took the decision to go into this line of work after recovering from a 25-year cocaine addiction in 2003.