Pittsburgh rock singer Donnie Iris, best known for the 1980 hit “Ah! Leah!” and the earlier Jaggerz single “The Rapper,” died Monday at age 83.
Donnie Iris. A Pittsburgh legend. 🖤💛
May he rest in peace. https://t.co/9o4pROAek3— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 27, 2026
Monday October 26th 2026
Its being reported that Pittsburgh Rock Legend & My Longtime Pal,
Our beloved
Donnie Iris is gone at 83.Dominic Ierace, 1943-2026.
“Addio, mio caro amico.”
(Goodbye, my dear friend). https://t.co/KkVSA0vm3u— Sean Mcdowell (@dvesean) October 26, 2026
Donnie Iris. A Pittsburgh legend.
Rest in peace, King Cool. 🖤💛 https://t.co/gbfvLnvF7w
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) October 27, 2026
His death was reported by a former bandmate, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
Iris, born Dominic Ierace, had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023 shortly after a sold-out 80th birthday performance.
“He canceled some dates at the time, but later returned to the stage,” the network news outlet reported.
On Oct. 9, he announced his retirement from live shows, citing recent health issues. His final concert had taken place Sept. 28 at Citizens Live at The Wylie in Pittsburgh.
In a letter posted to social media that day, Iris wrote, “After much thought, and in light of recent health issues, I have made the difficult decision to retire from future concert performances.”
He added that music had given him more than he could put into words and thanked fans for their support across the decades.
“While I will no longer be performing live, the memories, the music, and the connections we have built together will always remain close to my heart,” he said. “It has been my great honor to make music for you.”
Variety noted that Iris had been fighting the cancer for three years.
His longtime keyboardist and collaborator Mark Avsec told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Iris performed that last show while seated in a chair after radiation treatment earlier that afternoon.
“He sang like a bird that night,” Avsec said. “The cancer was spreading, and he was in pain, and he really wanted to do that show and be with the people.”
RIP Donnie Iris, the Pittsburgh music legend behind “Ah! Leah!,” has died, according to a former bandmate on Monday. He was 83.
On September 28, 2026, he gave his final performance in his hometown of Pittsburgh and subsequently announced his retirement on October 9th due to health issues.
— Denn Dunham (@DennD68) October 27, 2026
Iris first reached a national audience in 1970 as a member of the Jaggerz, when “The Rapper” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
After later playing with Wild Cherry, he formed Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.
Their 1980 album Back on the Streets produced “Ah! Leah!,” which reached No. 29.
Subsequent mid-chart hits included “Love Is Like a Rock” and “My Girl” in 1981.
The band toured with acts such as Journey, Foreigner, and Hall & Oates and remained a regional favorite in western Pennsylvania and the Midwest for decades.
Rest in peace, Donnie Iris. 🕊️ The Pittsburgh rock legend has passed away at 83.
#DonnieIris #AhLeah #RIP #PittsburghRock #RockDonnie Iris (Dominic Ierace), born Feb 28, 1943 in New Castle, PA, died Oct 26, 2026 after a battle with bladder cancer. He wrote the No. 2 Billboard hit “The Rapper” with the Jaggerz in 1970, played with Wild Cherry, then launched a solo career with the Cruisers, scoring “Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like a Rock.”
He retired from live performing on Oct 9, after a final show on Sept 28 in Pittsburgh.
Thank you for the music.
— Brett 🇺🇸 (@BrettDanner1) October 27, 2026
Fellow Pittsburgh musician Joe Grushecky told the Post-Gazette that Iris was, in his view, “the most beloved Pittsburgh musician of all time.”
“I don’t know anyone who was loved more than Donnie,” he added. “He just had that warmth about him, and it came through in his performance.”
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