Donnie Iris

Donnie Iris
Iris performing live at the South Park Amphitheater near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 2011
Iris performing live at the South Park Amphitheater near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 2011
Background information
Birth nameDominic Ierace
Born (1943-02-28) February 28, 1943 (age 81)
Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, US
GenresRock, pop rock, power pop, hard rock
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1961–present
LabelsMidwest National Records (1979–80)
MCA Records (1980–84)
HME Records (1984–85)
Seathru Records (1992–97)
Primary Records (1997–present)
Websitewww.donnieiris.com

Donnie Iris (born Dominic Ierace, February 28, 1943)[1][2][3] is an American rock musician known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers. He wrote the #2 Billboard hit, "The Rapper", with the Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music." He also achieved fame as a solo artist in the early 1980s with the #29 hit "Ah! Leah!" and the #37 hit "Love Is Like a Rock."

In addition to performing on the first three Jaggerz albums and the fourth and final Wild Cherry album, Iris with his solo band has released eleven studio albums, one EP, two live albums, and two compilation albums. He continues to intermittently release new material and tour throughout the greater Pittsburgh, Youngstown and Cleveland areas.

  1. ^ Tady, Scott (February 4, 2018). "Donnie Iris rocks the palace to celebrate 75th birthday". Beaver County Times. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2020. …a proclamation was presented by Mayor Bill Peduto declaring Feb. 28 (Iris' actual birthday) as Donnie Iris Day in the City of Pittsburgh.
  2. ^ "Donny Iris - Pittsburgh Rock 'N Roll Legends". sites.google.com. Archived from the original on 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  3. ^ "The Official Home of Donnie Iris and The Cruisers". www.donnieiris.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2020-11-02.