NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.–Western Pennsylvania has lost one of its most recognizable musical voices.
Donnie Iris, the Pittsburgh-area rock musician known for hits such as “Ah! Leah!,” “Love is Like a Rock and “The Rapper,” died Oct. 26 at the age of 83. Born Dominic Ierace, Iris spent decades building a musical legacy that reached far beyond Western Pennsylvania while remaining deeply connected to the communities where his career began.
Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Iris grew up in Ellwood City, where his interest in music developed at an early age. His mother introduced him to singing, and he began performing as a young child. He later attended Slippery Rock State College, now Slippery Rock University, before pursuing a career that would make him a household name throughout the Pittsburgh region…