Donnie Iris, Pittsburgh Rock Legend and 'Ah! Leah!' Singer, Dies at 83 After Battle with Bladder Cancer

Donnie Iris, the beloved Pittsburgh rocker known for his solo hit 'Ah! Leah!' and earlier success with the Jaggerz, has died at 83 after a three-year battle with bladder cancer. Iris's music career spanned six decades, beginning with the Jaggerz, whose 1970 single 'The Rapper' reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. He later launched a solo career that produced memorable hits like 'Ah! Leah!' and 'Love Is Like a Rock' in the early 1980s. Iris remained a staple of Pittsburgh's music scene, performing regularly and earning a devoted hometown following. His death marks the end of an era for classic rock fans and the Pittsburgh community, where he was more than a musician—he was a cultural icon. As tributes pour in, his legacy as a hitmaker and local hero will endure through his timeless songs and the generations of fans he inspired.