Jimmy Destri

Jimmy Destri was born James Mollica on April 13, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. He's of Italian descent. His father was a novelist who also wrote screenplays and eventually advertising copy to support his family while his mother was a housewife. Destri grew up in Boro Park and was raised in his grandmother's house. His uncle played drums for Joey Dee and the Starlighters. Jimmy taught himself how to play drums, bass, and piano and wrote music and played in local neighborhood bands as a kid. He attended Catholic schools and went to Bishop Ford High School. Destri dropped out of high school in order to form his first band the 86th Proof. In 1975 Jimmy joined the hugely popular, successful, and innovative New Wave rock group Blondie and remained the keyboardist for the band until Blondie broke up in the early 80s. Moreover, Destri has co-written such Blondie songs as "Atomic," "No Exit," "Maria," "Picture This," and "Nothing Is Real but the Girl." He released the solo album "Heart on a Wall" in 1981. In addition, throughout the 80s Jimmy not only ran a company that bought, renovated, and sold old buildings, but also produced records and remixed material for music artists that include Prince and INXS. He rejoined Blondie in 1997 and continued to tour with the band up until 2004. Destri now lives in Windsor Terrace with his wife Roberta, son James, and daughter Rienna and works full time as a drug counselor/therapist at the outpatient recovery center Carnegie Hill Institute in New York City.