Birth Name: Steven Edward Duren
Place of Birth: Staten Island, New York, United States
Date of Birth: September 4, 1956
Ethnicity:
*German, Irish (father)
*1/4 Blackfoot Native American, possibly Jewish and French (mother)
Blackie Lawless is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and former bassist of the heavy metal band W.A.S.P.
Blackie’s uncle was Major League Baseball pitcher Ryne Duren (Rinold George Duren), meaning Blackie’s father was Ryne’s brother. Ryne had German and Irish ancestry, though it is not clear which of his siblings is Blackie’s father.
He has stated that his bloodline is Jewish, although he holds a deep Christian faith. It is not clear if this ancestry has been documented. If Blackie is of Jewish descent, it is on his mother’s side.
Blackie has also stated that he is of part Native American ancestry. An article reported that Blackie’s mother is of one quarter Blackfoot Native American descent. Blackie’s mother is also said to have French ancestry, although it is not clear if this is accurate.
Blackie’s paternal grandparents were Nicholas Rinold Duren (the son of Joseph William Duren and Anna Margaret Leimkuehler) and Anne/Anna M. Murphy (the daughter of Stephen John Murphy and Nora/Mora Quinn). Joseph was German. Blackie’s great-grandmother Anna Leimkuehler was born in Cazenovia, Wisconsin, to German parents. Stephen and Nora/Mora were both born in Wisconsin, to Irish parents.
Sources: Genealogy of Blackie’s father (through his own brother, Rinold George Duren) – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Blackie’s paternal grandfather, Nicholas Rinold Duren, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nicholas Rinold Duren on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Nicholas Rinold Duren on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Blackie’s paternal grandmother, Anne/Anna M. Murphy – https://familysearch.org
Blackie’s paternal grandmother, Anne/Anna M. Murphy, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Anne/Anna M. Murphy on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
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