Donnie Iris, a rock musician with a six-decade career centered in Pittsburgh and the Midwest, passed away Monday at age 83 following a three-year battle with bladder cancer. His most significant chart achievement came in 1970 when the Jaggerz, the group he fronted, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “The Rapper.” The song addressed conversational flirtation rather than the musical genre that would later bear the name.
After the Jaggerz dissolved, Iris continued performing as frontman of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, gaining particular popularity in regional markets during the power pop and Midwest rock era. A decade after “The Rapper,” he achieved another chart entry with “Ah! Leah!” in 1980, which peaked at No. 29 on the Hot 100. Two additional mid-level hits followed in 1981 with “Love Is Like a Rock” and “My Girl.” Despite modest national chart performance, Iris maintained a devoted following throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio, with many considering him the region’s most beloved musician.
Iris’s career included periods as a guitarist for Wild Cherry and ownership of SimCorp, a mortgage company in Aliquippa. He continued performing regularly throughout his life, with his final show occurring less than a month ago on September 28 at Citizens Live at the Wylie, performed seated following radiation treatment. Longtime collaborator Mark Avsec, his keyboard player and best friend of nearly 50 years, noted that despite his declining health, Iris remained committed to connecting with audiences. Industry observer Bob Lefsetz published a well-read essay in 2025 reflecting on Iris’s career and enduring musical abilities, prompting renewed recognition of his contributions to rock music.
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