Overview
- The drummer Joe Vitale Jr. announced late Monday that Donnie Iris had died at age 83 after a long illness.
- Iris had publicly battled bladder cancer since 2023 and announced his retirement from concert performing on October 9.
- His final public performance took place on September 28 at the grand opening of Citizens Live at The Wylie where he played seated following treatment.
- News outlets and local leaders quickly issued tributes, with colleagues praising his warmth and six-decade career that included hits like "The Rapper" and "Ah! Leah!."
- A formal cause of death had not been released as reporting continued, and Iris’s passing is expected to prompt renewed interest in his regional legacy and catalog.