Pittsburgh Mourns the Loss of Rock Legend Donnie Iris:

 

Western Pennsylvania is grieving the loss of a true hometown icon. Dominic "Donnie" Ierace—known and loved across generations as Donnie Iris—has passed away at the age of 83 following a battle with cancer.

 

Donnie was more than a musician; he was the soundtrack of the Steel City and a symbol of Pittsburgh's rock-and-roll spirit.

 

A Lifetime of Hits and Hometown Pride:

 

Born in New Castle, Donnie’s career reached incredible heights early on. In 1970, he earned a gold record as the singer and songwriter of "The Rapper" with The Jagger. He later joined Wild Cherry before teaming up with keyboardist Mark Avsec to launch Donnie Iris & The Cruisers.

 

Together, they created iconic rock classics that defined an era. Tracks like "Ah! Leah!" and "My Girl" became timeless anthems that captured the heart and energy of listeners across the nation, remaining staples on local airwaves and at Pittsburgh gatherings for decades.

 

Despite his national success, Donnie never left his roots behind. He remained deeply connected to Western Pennsylvania, constantly expressing gratitude to his fans and bringing an infectious energy, signature style, and unyielding passion to every stage he stepped on.

 

Donnie's music brought people together, bridged generations, and gave Pittsburgh a voice that will never be forgotten.

 

Editor's Note & Personal Tribute:

 

"Thank you so much for the greatest song, My Girl. It connected with me and it connected with the whole entire city of Pittsburgh. You and your music will be in with us forever and ever. And I hope, Mr. Iris, you rock on up in heaven. Make everybody scream your name up there in heaven. God bless you, Donnie."

 

— Robert Joseph Orwig, Editor-in-Chief, Three Rivers News