{"id":314971,"date":"2026-10-27T02:08:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T02:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/314971\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T02:08:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T02:08:10","slug":"donnie-iris-remembered-by-pittsburghers-as-special-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/314971\/","title":{"rendered":"Donnie Iris remembered by Pittsburghers as “special man”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pittsburghers are remembering Donnie Iris<\/a> as “a local legend” following his death on Monday. The iconic Pittsburgh rocker was 83.<\/p>\n

Iris had been diagnosed in 2023<\/a>\u00a0with bladder cancer after his sold-out 80th birthday show, leading him to cancel multiple concerts. But Iris returned to the stage, where he stayed until he announced his retirement<\/a>\u00a0in early October after performing at Citizens Live at The Wylie on Sept. 28.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

“Today, we lost a true Pittsburgh icon,” Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor posted on X<\/a> on Monday night. “Donnie Iris was more than a local legend – he was part of the soundtrack of our city.”<\/p>\n

In his tribute, O’Connor thanked Iris for sharing his music with the world and “uniting our city through our shared pride in you, your music & your legacy.”<\/p>\n

Bill Peduto, who served as Pittsburgh’s mayor from 2014 to 2022, said in a post on X<\/a> that Iris “represented everything that was good about being a Pittsburgher.”<\/p>\n

“He was a special man – talented, kind, welcoming & down to Earth,” Peduto wrote on Monday night. “He will forever be a part of Pittsburgh. Miss you already, King and thank you!”<\/p>\n

Condolences and remembrances for Iris poured in Monday night for Iris, whose career took off in 1970 when he earned a gold record for writing and singing the No. 1 song “The Rapper” with the Jaggerz.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He then joined Wild Cherry in 1978 before founding Donnie Iris & The Cruisers with Mark Avsec. They recorded the album “Back On The Streets,” which had the hit song “Ah! Leah!”\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

“Fair winds and following seas to a Western PA legend, Donnie Iris,” Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio posted to X<\/a> on Monday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Steelers<\/a>, Pirates<\/a> and Penguins<\/a> all shared tributes, as did Jondavid R. Longo, the mayor of Slippery Rock Borough.<\/p>\n

“He was one of ours, born in New Castle, raised in Ellwood City, and forever tied to the towns and people of this region,” Longo said in a Facebook<\/a> post Monday night. “Donnie cared about Slippery Rock enough to give his time and talent to charitable efforts that strengthened our community.”<\/p>\n

\n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n

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