Pittsburgh Rock Icon Donnie Iris Dies at 83

WHO:

Variety - Donnie Iris, a Pittsburgh rock musician and member of the Jaggerz and solo artist, died at 83.

CBS News - Donnie Iris, known for “Ah! Leah!” and regarded as a Pittsburgh music legend, died at 83.

CBS News - Iris called Ellwood City his hometown.

CBS News - Iris met Mark Avsec after joining Wild Cherry; the two founded Donnie Iris & The Cruisers.

CBS News - Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor called Iris “more than a local legend - he was part of the soundtrack of our city.”

WHAT:

CBS News - A reviewer dubbed Donnie Iris the “new king of cool” after a show.

Variety - Iris had a six-decade career that included hit singles in the 1960s and 1980s.

Variety - The Jaggerz reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

CBS News - Iris earned a gold record for writing and singing “The Rapper,” which reached No. 1, with the Jaggerz.

CBS News - Donnie Iris & The Cruisers recorded *Back On The Streets*, which included “Ah! Leah!”

CBS News - The follow-up album *King Cool* included “Love Is Like A Rock,” “That’s The Way Love Ought To Be” and “My Girl.”

CBS News - The band toured with Journey, Loverboy, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Joan Jett and Hall & Oates.

CBS News - Iris retired from future concert performances after health issues; he said, “Music has given me far more than I could ever put into words.”

WHERE:

Variety - Iris was regarded as Pittsburgh’s biggest hometown rock hero.

CBS News - Iris performed at Citizens Live at The Wylie before announcing his retirement.

WHEN:

Deadline - Donnie Iris died in Pittsburgh on October 26.

CBS News - Iris’s rise to fame began in 1970.

CBS News - Iris was diagnosed with bladder cancer after his sold-out 80th birthday show in 2023.

CBS News - Iris announced his retirement in a social-media letter posted on Oct. 9.

CBS News - His retirement announcement followed a show at Citizens Live at The Wylie on Sept. 28.

WHY:

Variety - Iris had been fighting bladder cancer for three years.

CBS News - Iris canceled several shows after his diagnosis, later returned to performing, and cited recent health issues as the reason for retiring.

HOW:

CBS News - The name “King Cool” for Iris’s follow-up album came from the reviewer’s “new king of cool” description.

CBS News - Iris announced his retirement in a letter posted to social media.

CBS News - Iris’s cause of death had not been released.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 20:06 UTC)

Pittsburgh rock legend Donnie Iris, known for “Ah! Leah!” and “The Rapper,” has died at 83 after fighting bladder cancer for three years.

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(UPDATED October 27, 2026 16:10 UTC)

Pittsburgh rock legend Donnie Iris, best known for “Ah! Leah!” and the Jaggerz hit “The Rapper,” has died at 83 after fighting bladder cancer for three years.

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(UPDATED October 27, 2026 13:25 UTC)

Pittsburgh rock musician Donnie Iris, best known for “Ah! Leah!” and a six-decade career, has died at 83 after fighting bladder cancer for three years.