Donnie Iris, the Pittsburgh rock singer known as “King Cool,” died on Monday, October 26, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was 83 years old. The news was posted on Facebook by drummer Joe Vitale Jr., of Donnie Iris & the Cruisers, who wrote: “Tonight, I have some very sad news to share.”
Iris had been battling bladder cancer for about three years, since his diagnosis in 2023, which came shortly after his 80th birthday concert. He had canceled several shows during treatment before returning to the stage in March 2024. Friends and former bandmates said he kept performing for the Pittsburgh audience even as the illness progressed.
Retirement letter came weeks before the death
On October 9, 2026, Iris published a letter on Facebook saying he would stop performing live because of recent health problems. He wrote that he was “deeply grateful” to his daughters, his family and his fans. His last concert had taken place on September 28, 2026, at the opening night of Citizens Live at The Wylie, a new concert hall in Pittsburgh.
From the Jaggerz to a solo career built in Pittsburgh
Iris first reached national audiences as a member of the Jaggerz, whose 1970 single “The Rapper” climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. He later joined Wild Cherry, the group behind “Play That Funky Music,” and left it in 1979 to form Donnie Iris and the Cruisers. That band took his name and built a long run of shows across the Pittsburgh region.
The group’s biggest hit came in 1980 with “Ah! Leah!”, which reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple of rock radio. Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said in a statement that Iris “was more than a local legend” and “was part of the soundtrack of our city.” Sports teams from the city, including the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins, also posted tributes on social media.
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Key dates from his birth to his final show
- February 28, 1943: born in New Castle, Pennsylvania
- 1979: left Wild Cherry and formed Donnie Iris and the Cruisers
- 2023: diagnosed with bladder cancer, after his 80th birthday concert
- March 2024: returned to the stage after canceling shows
- September 28, 2026: final concert, at Citizens Live at The Wylie
- October 9, 2026: letter announcing the end of live performances
- October 26, 2026: died in Pittsburgh, at age 83
Cause of death not released, and no funeral details yet
The official cause of death had not been made public as of October 27, 2026, according to one of the sources consulted. The reports reviewed also did not give details of a funeral, wake, burial or survivors. An estimate of about US$ 3 million for Iris’s estate was reported by one source, but it was not independently verified.