Dominic Ierace, the Pittsburgh rock legend known around the world as Donnie Iris, died Monday at 83 after a battle with bladder cancer.
Iris, who was born in New Castle on Feb. 28, 1943, and grew up in Ellwood City, started singing at weddings as a child and sustained fame with his powerful, soulful vocals. Also known as “King Cool,” Iris was renowned for his more than six decades as a musician.
He had a lasting hit with “The Rapper” in 1970 with his band The Jaggerz, and he charted multiple songs in the early 1980s with Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, including “Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like A Rock,” all perennial Pittsburgh anthems.
His death was confirmed Monday by longtime friend and regional concert promoter Rich Engler. Engler said it was a great loss for Pittsburgh. “He became iconic in our area. … A super talent, and one of the very few talents who actually made it big out of Pittsburgh in the rock and roll business.”