Donnie Iris: The Remarkable Life and Lasting Voice of Pittsburgh’s King Cool
Donnie Iris turned a childhood love of singing into a career that crossed six decades. His powerful voice brought him national success, but his strongest bond remained with the people of western Pennsylvania.
Born Dominic Ierace, he helped the Jaggerz reach the charts, performed with Wild Cherry and built a lasting partnership with the Cruisers. Away from music, he raised two daughters and worked in mortgage lending.
His story includes hit records, business ventures, costly court battles and a final concert during serious illness. He died on 26 October 2026, aged 83, leaving songs that still carry his spirit.
Donnie Iris Quick Bio
| Detail | Facts |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dominic Ierace |
| Professional name | Donnie Iris |
| Nickname | King Cool |
| Born | 28 February 1943 |
| Birthplace | New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Hometown | Ellwood City, Pennsylvania |
| Died | 26 October 2026 |
| Age at death | 83 |
| Nationality | American |
| Heritage | Italian American |
| Parents | Samuel and Carrie Ierace |
| Sister | Caren |
| Wife | Linda Grimm; later separated |
| Children | Erin and Addy |
| Grandchildren | Five |
| School | Lincoln High School |
| College | Slippery Rock State College; degree not completed |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, guitarist and businessman |
| Net worth | No verified figure |
| Salary | Not disclosed |
| Height and weight | Not verified |
| Religion | Not established |
Donnie Iris: Childhood, Parents and Education
Dominic was born in New Castle and grew up in nearby Ellwood City. His birthplace and childhood hometown were different places, despite occasional confusion between them.
His parents, Samuel and Carrie, raised him in a town shaped by steel mills and strong neighbourhood ties. His Italian American heritage formed part of that family background.
Samuel worked in a steel mill before moving into sales. He also had a stake in a local tavern. Carrie played music and became her son’s first singing teacher.
Music Began at Home
Carrie taught him beside an upright piano in the basement. Young Dominic sometimes preferred baseball to practice, but her patience helped him develop his voice.
He sang at weddings and entered talent contests during childhood. These early performances taught him how to face an audience.
Outside music, he enjoyed neighbourhood games, amusement parks and visits to see the Pittsburgh Pirates with relatives.
Why He Left College
After Lincoln High School, he attended Slippery Rock State College, now Slippery Rock University.
He first studied chemistry before changing direction. Accounts differ on his later subject, describing English or education.
Teaching was one possible career, but music became his main aim. He left after about two and a half years without completing a degree.
How Donnie Iris Began His Career
His early musical groups included the Fabutons, followed by the Tri-Vels and Donnie and the Donnells during college.
The groups played pop and rhythm and blues covers at parties and local venues. Regular shows helped him learn stagecraft and teamwork.
He later simplified his surname for professional use because people struggled to pronounce Ierace. Donnie was the name his mother used, and Iris made the full name easier to remember.
The Jaggerz and “The Rapper”
He joined the Jaggerz during the mid 1960s. The band built a local audience before releasing its first album in 1969.
Their national breakthrough came the following year with “The Rapper”, which he wrote. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
Success brought wider attention, but matching that hit proved difficult. Further recordings followed before he left the group in 1976.
His Time With Wild Cherry
Studio work helped him remain active before he joined Wild Cherry in 1978.
The group had released “Play That Funky Music” in 1976, so he joined after its biggest breakthrough.
His most important connection there was keyboard player Mark Avsec. Their friendship developed into a writing and recording partnership that shaped the next chapter.
Donnie Iris and the Cruisers
The original Cruisers brought together Iris, Avsec, guitarist Marty Lee Hoenes, bassist Albritton McClain and drummer Kevin Valentine.
Their music mixed bright melodies, strong guitar parts and rich vocal layers. His voice could move from gentle lines to striking high notes without losing its character.
Breakthrough Albums and Famous Songs
The 1980 album Back on the Streets introduced “Ah! Leah!”, his signature solo song.
Its memorable chorus helped it reach number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. King Cool followed in 1981, bringing further success.
“My Girl” became his highest charting solo single. “Love Is Like a Rock” also became closely linked with his live shows.
Donnie Iris Chart Highlights
| Song | Hot 100 peak |
|---|---|
| “The Rapper”, with the Jaggerz | 2 |
| “My Girl” | 25 |
| “Ah! Leah!” | 29 |
| “Love Is Like a Rock” | 37 |
| “Tough World” | 57 |
| “Do You Compute?” | 64 |
A Recording Career Beyond the Hits
His next albums included The High and the Mighty, Fortune 410 and No Muss… No Fuss.
Later releases included Out of the Blue, Footsoldier in the Moonlight, Poletown and Together Alone.
He released Ellwood City in 2006 and the Christmas album Ah! Leluiah! in 2010.
Concert recordings, including Live! At Nick’s Fat City and Ah! Live!, captured the energy that kept audiences returning.
Donnie Iris: Wife, Children and Family
He married Linda Grimm in the late 1960s. They had two daughters, Erin and Addy.
In a 2025 interview, he said he had married once and that the couple had been separated for approximately 30 years.
He also spoke about enjoying life with five grandchildren. His family remained important even though their private lives received less attention than his career.
His sister was named Caren. An older newspaper article used the spelling Karen Levitt.
Donnie Iris Net Worth and Business Ventures
No verified financial statement establishes his net worth. Exact figures circulating online should not be treated as a sound valuation of his estate.
His annual salary was also undisclosed. Music and business work can produce changing earnings rather than a fixed yearly wage.
Main Sources of Income
His work included concerts, songwriting, recordings and mortgage lending.
These activities created income opportunities, but exact earnings and royalty payments remain private.
Record sales alone cannot establish personal wealth. Touring costs, business expenses, contracts and legal fees all affect what an artist keeps.
SIMCorp Mortgage Company
He developed a second career in mortgage lending and became a partner in SIMCorp with Lynn Shelley and Priscilla Micinko.
The company name combined their surnames. He worked with customers and learned the lending business while continuing to perform.
This was a practical business role, rather than simply an endorsement using his fame.
King Cool Light Beer
He also helped develop King Cool Light with Avsec, Hoenes and manager Mike Belkin.
The beer reached Pittsburgh before expanding into Youngstown in 2010. Lion Brewing Company produced it.
His role in the brand does not establish ownership of the brewery.
Legal Challenges and Career Setbacks
Iris and Avsec defended a copyright claim involving “Ah! Leah!”. They won the trial, but Avsec later described the legal bills as deeply damaging.
That experience helped inspire Avsec to become a copyright lawyer.
A separate dispute began in 2013 over alleged unpaid royalties connected to a sample of “Memoirs of the Traveler”.
The claim involved Sony/ATV. Without a verified final outcome, it cannot be described as a confirmed payout or legal victory.
Final Years, Retirement and Death
He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023. Treatment interrupted his work, but he returned to the stage, including a comeback show in March 2024.
His final concert took place on 28 September 2026 at Citizens Live at The Wylie in Pittsburgh.
He announced his retirement on 9 October because of health problems and died on 26 October, aged 83.
Early coverage did not provide a formally released medical cause of death. His cancer illness, however, was well documented.
Personal Details and Lasting Legacy
His height and weight have no dependable verified measurements. His mother’s church music does not establish his own religious beliefs.
He spoke English and grew up in western Pennsylvania, but a precise accent description remains unverified.
He enjoyed baseball, golf and local food, and remained fond of the region where he grew up.
Pittsburgh honoured him as a Rock ’N Roll Legend in 2015. His songs and lasting connection with concert audiences explain why King Cool remained such a loved local figure.
His appeal also came from the contrast between his everyday manner and his powerful stage voice. He could seem relaxed in conversation, then deliver a performance full of drive and feeling.
Although national chart success slowed, he continued making records and playing for loyal crowds. The concerts gave older fans a chance to revisit familiar songs and introduced younger listeners to his music.
He never needed to leave western Pennsylvania behind to maintain that bond. His career showed how a musician could earn national recognition while keeping a strong sense of home, friendship and family at the centre of his working life through the years.
Donnie Iris FAQs
Who is Donnie Iris?
He was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist known for “Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like a Rock”. His birth name was Dominic Ierace.
How old was Donnie Iris?
He was 83 when he died on 26 October 2026. He was born on 28 February 1943.
Who were his parents?
His parents were Samuel and Carrie Ierace. Carrie taught him to sing, while both parents supported his early musical interests.
Was he married?
He married Linda Grimm, and they had two daughters. In 2025, he said they had been separated for approximately 30 years.
Did he have siblings?
He had a sister named Caren. A historical newspaper article identified her as Karen Levitt, using a different spelling of her first name.
