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| Donnie Iris (1943-2026) |
Pittsburgh music legend Donnie Iris died at age 83, just two weeks after announcing his retirement from performing.
Iris had been battling cancer for several years.
Iris, born Dominic Ierace, was famous for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry in the 1970s and for his solo career with the Cruisers in the 1980s.
He wrote the Jaggerz's number 2 Billboard hit "The Rapper" and had solo hits like "Ah Leah!" (which reached number 29) and "Love Is Like a Rock" (which peaked at number 37).
He announced his retirement after a September 28 performance at the opening of Citizens Live at the Wylie, a new concert venue near Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena.
In a Facebook post, Iris said, "After much thought, and in light of recent health issues, I have made the difficult decision to retire from future concert performances."
He expressed deep gratitude to his fans, family, musicians, crew, and promoters, calling music a constant source of joy and inspiration throughout his life. Reflecting on his final show, Iris said, “It was a meaningful and fitting moment to share with all of you in my hometown.”