Pittsburgh Rock Star Donnie Iris Dies
The veteran musician passed away at 83 after a three-year battle with bladder cancer, having performed his final concert just weeks prior.
By David Mokoena ·
Donnie Iris, a central figure in the regional music scene for six decades, died on Monday at the age of 83. He had been undergoing treatment for bladder cancer for the past three years. His death marks the end of a career that spanned from the early 1960s to the late 2020s, characterized by chart success in the Midwest and a devoted local following in Pennsylvania.
Iris first gained national attention with the group the Jaggerz. In 1970, their single “The Rapper” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song focused on flirting with women, a term that predated the specific genre name. After the Jaggerz disbanded, Iris formed Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. The band achieved renewed commercial success in 1980 with “Ah! Leah!,” which peaked at No. 29. That year also saw the release of their debut album, “Back on the Streets.”
Despite modest national chart positions, Iris held a prominent status in his home region. Joe Grushecky, leader of the Iron City Houserockers, described him to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as the most beloved Pittsburgh musician of all time. Grushecky noted that Iris possessed a warmth that resonated strongly with audiences. “I don’t know anyone who was loved more than Donnie,” Grushecky said. “He just had that warmth about him, and it came through in his performance.”
Iris maintained a rigorous performance schedule until shortly before his death. He played his final show on Sept. 28 at Citizens Live at the Wylie in Pittsburgh. He sat in a chair during the set after receiving radiation treatment earlier that afternoon. Mark Avsec, his keyboard player and longtime friend, told the Post-Gazette that Iris sang with vigor despite his pain. “He sang like a bird that night,” Avsec said. “It was the first time on a chair, and he didn’t like that.”
His musical journey began in high school doo-wop groups before he joined the Jaggerz in 1964. The band signed with Gamble Records, founded by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and released their first album in 1969. In the late 1970s, Iris joined Wild Cherry as a guitarist. He later reconnected with Avsec and recruited Marty Lee Hoenes, Albritton McClain, and Kevin Valentine to form the Cruisers. The group released four albums through 1983 before MCA Records dropped them in 1984. They continued recording into the 2010s without major label support.
Between musical projects, Iris worked as a mortgage broker and owned SimCorp in Aliquippa. He acknowledged that his celebrity status helped generate business, as customers often sought out the musician they had grown up hearing. Industry writer Bob Lefsetz highlighted Iris’s continued relevance in a 2025 blog post, praising the musician's straight-ahead rock style and his ability to perform with energy at age 82. Lefsetz noted that Iris remained active and connected to his fans long after his initial chart run.
Source: Variety
