Donnie Iris, the distinctive voice behind the 1980 power-pop anthem “Ah! Leah!” and Pittsburgh’s biggest hometown rock hero, died Monday at the age of 83 following a three-year battle with bladder cancer.
Donnie Iris Dies at 83 After Cancer Battle
- Iris passed away on Monday at 83 after fighting bladder cancer for three years.
- He achieved chart success across six decades, first as a member of the Jaggerz with 1970’s “The Rapper” and later fronting Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.
- The rocker performed his final live concert on September 28 at Pittsburgh venue Citizens Live at The Wylie just weeks before his death.
A Six-Decade Legacy Across Pittsburgh and the Billboard Charts
Born Dominic Ierace on February 28, 1943, Iris built a six-decade career that anchored him firmly in the musical identity of western Pennsylvania and the broader Midwest. He was regarded as being to Pittsburgh what Michael Stanley was to Cleveland. His early career took shape in high school doo-wop groups during the early 1960s before transitioning into rock and R&B cover bands.
In 1964, Iris helped form the Jaggerz, a band that eventually signed with Gamble Records—the Philadelphia soul label founded by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The group broke through nationally in 1970 when “The Rapper” climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track focused on talking up girls, long before the hip-hop genre coined the term. Following the dissolution of the Jaggerz and a brief stint playing guitar for Wild Cherry in the wake of “Play That Funky Music,” Iris pivoted to his most enduring project.
Forming the Cruisers and Scoring the 1980s Power-Pop Wave
During his time with Wild Cherry, Iris crossed paths with keyboardist Mark Avsec, who would become his lifelong collaborator and best friend. Alongside Marty Lee Hoenes, Albritton McClain, and Kevin Valentine, they formed Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. The group’s 1980 debut album, Back on the Streets, yielded the defining track “Ah! Leah!,” which peaked at No. 29 on the Hot 100.
‘Ah! Leah!’ singer Donnie Iris dies at 83: Reports https://t.co/7uvHbiANNZ
The Cruisers followed up with 1981’s King Cool, securing two additional mid-level chart hits with “Love Is Like a Rock” and “My Girl.” Though major-label backing from MCA Records ended in 1984, Iris and his bandmates continued recording independently into the 2010s while maintaining a dedicated regional touring schedule.
| Song Title | Release Year | Associated Group / Act | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| “The Rapper” | 1970 | The Jaggerz | No. 2 (Billboard Hot 100) |
| “Ah! Leah!” | 1980 | Donnie Iris and the Cruisers | No. 29 (Billboard Hot 100) |
| “Love Is Like a Rock” | 1981 | Donnie Iris and the Cruisers | Top 40 Hit |
| “My Girl” | 1982 | Donnie Iris and the Cruisers | Top 40 Hit |
Final Curtain Call in Pittsburgh
Iris announced his official retirement from concert touring earlier this month, citing mounting health complications. Despite advancing illness, he made a final stage appearance on September 28 for the grand opening of Citizens Live at The Wylie in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Iris performed seated in a chair after receiving radiation treatment earlier that afternoon.
He sang like a bird that night,
Mark Avsec told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, adding that the poor guy, the cancer was spreading, and he was in pain, and he really wanted to do that show and be with the people.
Fellow Pittsburgh musician Joe Grushecky offered a similar tribute to the Post-Gazette, stating, For my money, he was the most beloved Pittsburgh musician of all time. I don’t know anyone who was loved more than Donnie. He just had that warmth about him, and it came through in his performance.
