CLEVELAND, Ohio – Dominic Ierace, better known to thousands of fans as Donnie Iris, has died at 83 years old.

The singer-songwriter and Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, native, who was also beloved throughout Northeast Ohio, was a staple in clubs, bars and theaters in the region for more than five and a half decades.

Iris was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023, forcing him to cancel a spate of shows while assuring fans he would return to the stage. Iris did return and continued performing in Ohio and Pennsylvania until announcing his retirement just a few weeks ago after a final show in Pittsburgh on September 28.

Iris came to regional and eventually national fame as a member of The Jaggerz, best known for their Iris-penned 1970 Billboard Hot 100 number two-peaking hit “The Rapper.” Years later Iris would join Wild Cherry and after that band’s dissolution, Iris would team up with the Wild Cherry keyboardist Marc Avsec to form Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.

The band’s 1980 debut “Back On The Streets, released on Cleveland-based Midwest Records, contained the Iris-Avsec pop-rock hit “Ah! Leah!” which peaked in the top 20 of the Hot 100, giving the Pittsburgh band a national hit. Their success continued with the second album “King Cool,” featuring the anthemic “Love Is Like A Rock.” Both hit songs, and their videos made Iris and the Cruisers one of the early bands in regular rotation on a then-new music-focused cable channel called MTV.

Iris’ passing has drawn an outpouring of grief and memories of the music and the man from fans, friends, prominent area politicians and musicians.

Iris’ longtime musical partner Mark Avsec who was a fellow member Wild Cherry and co-founded and co-wrote the songs with Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, kept his message simple.

“A deeply heartfelt goodbye to Donnie, my very dear friend and creative partner of 45 years. I love you brother. Mark”

Poison frontman Bret Michaels, who grew up in Mechanicsburg, used a visual aid to express his condolences.

“Donnie Iris, you will forever be loved. May you rest in peace. On behalf of myself, my family, all of us at Michaels Entertainment Group, the BMB, the crew and all in Poison – Donnie, Godspeed, my friend.

I took this picture today in the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania in memory of Donnie that he may Rest In Peace. Bret Michaels“

Joe Vitale Jr., former drummer for the Eagles and Donnie Iris and the Cruisers also expressed his loss.

Good evening my friends. Tonight, I have some very sad news to share. Many of you may already know about this, but today my boss and friend Donnie Iris passed away at the age of 83. I have had the honor and blessing of playing drums for Donnie Iris and the Cruisers for the past 5 years and it has been an extraordinary journey. The band and crew are the nicest people I have ever worked with and I do greatly consider them all to be family. At the first full show I performed with them in 2021, right before we went on stage, Donnie turned to me and gave me a huge hug. He always had an infectious smile, incredible energy and a wonderous personality. After you meet him, you honestly just love him. You could just sit and talk with him, laugh with him. He was King Cool.

To all of Donnie’s wonderful fans who have been following me over the past several years, I have greatly appreciated your support, wonderful messages and that you’ve been so wonderful to talk to. My deepest condolences to Donnie’s daughters and family. To the band and crew, you are all so wonderful and loved working with all of you all these years.

Donnie, love ya brother RIP my friend – Joe Vitale Jr.

Donnie Iris and the Cruisers 102.5 WDVE

Regional Pittsburgh band The Clarks, David Minarik, Jr., Scott Blasey, Greg Joseph, and Robert James, staples in the region for 40 years, have collectively and individually praised Iris and his music.

“The Clarks family sends condolences to the Iris family. Such a great loss both personally and musically. You’ll see personal posts from Clarks band members across their individual socials today. We’ve added a few snippets here from Scott and Rob as well. Such a well-deserved outpouring of love for Donnie. He will be forever remembered and forever missed.

From Scott: “Pittsburgh has lost a musical giant, and that’s not hyperbole. He was a towering figure in our music scene. There will never be another one like him.

I, and may others, have lost a dear friend. My heart is broken. My prayers go out to his beautiful family. My thoughts are with his many fans, all over the world, who are grieving just like me.

I take consolation in the fact that his memory and his music will live on long after we leave this earth. That’s the magic of music, and the power of the one and only King Cool, Donnie Iris.

Rest easy my friend. I’ll sing background with you again someday.”

From Rob: “Donnie Iris…he was a dear friend who always had a smile for everyone. My daughters called him “Pap King”. He was family and we loved him. It was a good life and he knew how to live it. I will be forever inspired by his huge heart and grateful for the time we shared on and off the stage. Rest easy brother.” The Clarks

In addition to the musical community and fans, other prominent Pittsburgh-based politicians and organizations honored Iris

Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor called Iris more than just a prominent local figure.

“Today, we lost a true Pittsburgh icon. Donnie Iris was more than a local legend – he was part of the soundtrack of our city. Thank you, Donnie, for sharing your music with the world and for uniting our city through our shared pride in you, your music and your legacy.”

Jondavid R. Longo, Mayor of Slippery Rock, where Iris attended Slippery Rock State College, called Iris “a rock legend and Pittsburgh icon whose voice filled arenas, radio stations, and living rooms for more than six decades.” Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor posted, “Donnie Iris was more than a local legend — he was part of the soundtrack of our city.”

“Donnie Iris represented everything that was good about being a Pittsburgher. He was a special man — talented, kind, welcoming & down to Earth,” Former Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto wrote on X.

The Pittsburgh Penguins also honored Iris on Facebook, calling him “forever a Pittsburgh legend,” while the Pittsburgh Steelers and The Pittsburgh Pirates expressed the same sentiment across social media.