EPIC!| FIRST TIME HEARING Donnie Iris - Ah Leah REACTION

[@jriron1]

80 years old... fighting cancer.. and up to rock again... a living legend, Donnie iris!!!!

[@alansmith7626]

Kick its ass! Prayers!

[@Mr3bairs]

I don't always listen to Donnie Iris, but when I do, so do the neighbors!

[@rpc2112]

😂🤣😆👍🏼💯🤙🏼

[@williamhannam3870]

@@rpc2112 Hahahaha! Awesome!

[@terryceaser9185]

Love it!!

[@VictorRomeo1917]

sharing is caring

[@CardinalStandard]

Me too friend!

[@pvujanov]

Just saw Donnie at the Bluestone in Columbus, Ohio on 4/6/24. Still rocking at 81 years of age. Excellent show. Lots of energy although he had to sit about every other song. His pipes are still amazing. He hit all those tough notes on "Ah Leah", "Sweet Merilee" and "That's the way love oughta be". I also saw him back in the day in the early 80's. Enjoyable today as he was 40+ years ago. Reply

[@heavymetalfarmer6102]

Man I forgot how great this song is.

[@KMK7355]

The power cords at the end are fire.

[@whimsical82]

My mom fell in love with the song Leah by Roy Orbison when she was growing up in 1964. Then she fell in love with this song in 1980. I was born 2 years later, and yup, I’m a Leah ☺️

[@AIGeneratedUser]

This made me smile haha thank you for sharing :)

[@omgleah]

Me too! This song is where my parents got my name!

[@alansmith7626]

Amazing! Have you heard Leah by Toto? MUST !!!

[@alansmith7626]

@@omgleah have you heard Leah by Toto? If not you Must!

[@jeffreyes6236]

That's cool! It's a great name. Every Leah I have known has been beautiful!

[@eves08109]

This was the kind of classic rock that made the 80s so special.

[@AnthonyL0401]

Reminds me of Loverboy too, now that I hear this again

[@williampavichevich4877]

TOTALLY, and a SHAME this Song was not played over the Sound waves/Radio much more often. CLASSIC and Timeless Hit. 😎🎧🎤🎶❤️👍🏻

[@ericgude721]

At the end. This is the BEST SCREAM in rock and roll!!!

[@wayne_twentyfive]

It's up there !

[@Willie_McBride]

I’ve got Roger Daltry on line 1 for you. And Sebastian Bach on line 2…

[@Mwoods2272]

Once you hear this song you will always remember it.

[@MC-en9rg]

God I miss the 80s. No better time to be in high school, listening to music like this.

[@chadcobb2285]

High in high school

[@davidburhenn3084]

Donnie Iris played my prom. His daughter was a senior. He was at the height of his fame. Incredible.

[@JunkyardKid]

Blackhawk High School?

[@dragonfreak123]

YES!!!!!! You finally got to this song!!! I've requested you guys react to this one several times!!! Really glad you enjoyed it, I knew you would!!!!! Love Is Like A Rock should be the next one from him!!! Thank you!!!

[@scottvanhille5688]

Dragon, I've suggested this multiple times too! This is the only song from him that I've heard. I thought they would really like it. They did two suggestions today!

[@Debcatawba]

@@scottvanhille5688 Give a listen to Love Is Like A Rock. You’ll be blown away!

[@cartercarter645]

Wow blast from the past - Love is like a Rock is a banger for sure- it will get your toes tapping’

[@rosiebarker6285]

LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK is a must!!!!!!!

[@kenanthony1202]

You guys really need to expand your music interest’s because this absolutely brutal.

[@fotosbyduane]

An absolute banger!! Enough said!

[@robertg7396]

I've always loved this song. It's fire! 🔥

[@DanielFrost21]

Being from Pittsburgh, I've seen Donnie a number of times. He's 80 years old and still performing. "Ah! Leah!" is his most well known song, but he has a lot of good ones.

[@TheBunabug]

Love is Like a Rock immediately comes to mind & is such a fantastic tune!

[@dmanwainright2132]

Thank you Daniel for the info! He is a Great Dude!

[@StaciaAmnaber]

Tough World

[@t0dd000]

I saw him at Nick's Fat City when he recorded that live album in '98. He killed it.

[@CodeBleu724]

My Girl Do You Compute? Agnes Love Is Like A Rock Sweet Merilee I'm from the Pittsburgh area too. Canonsburg.

[@brianezell5790]

Donnie Iris’s best song. This one flat out ROCKS!!

[@shanedangers]

Ok..I subscribed just because you reviewed this song.. it is a great classic rock song isn't it?? I love the brooding guitars and the keyboards and the bands vocals/choruses are always great.. I think Donnie Iris didn't get as popular as he should have been ... I was born in 1972 so I grew up on this. It's actually pretty funny that TO THIS DAY, many classic rock stations on FM radio play this frequently and surprisingly so many people KNOW the song but can't tell you who sings it. Donnie is a total 1950s geek. He has the Buddy Holly look down

[@lorirobinson511]

I'm psyched you guys are listening to Donnie! He's a proud Pittsburgh guy! You're going to love him!!

[@lorirobinson511]

I forgot to recommend listening to "Love is Like A Rock" by Donnie next. Or "Agnes". Both are fantastic!

[@markdraine3571]

Righto, Lori. Steel City icon for sure.

[@lorirobinson511]

@@markdraine3571 absolutely! Now I want to suggest a Clark's song! 😁

[@BGNOLA]

He sang "The Wrapper" by the Jaggers I think

[@RicoCosta317]

He's from my hometown, Ellwood City, PA, Lori! Read my comment below.

[@Dr_Bombay]

this song is a timeless deep cut. it's SO GOOD. i have never gotten tired of this one.

[@BillGraper]

Wow, excellent choice!!! Another banger!!! The song stalled at #29 in 1981, but plays more than a lot of #1 hits in today's world.

[@davidpesci6605]

"Love is Like a Rock" by Donnie Iris is another SMOKIN rocker! Thanks Jay and Amber!

[@MetalMcfly]

He's 80yrs old and still performs. This guy's endurance is incredible!

[@lunamoon837]

And he can still sing like he does at the end!

[@censorshipsucks9493]

Here's him last year at 79 still hitting the notes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIW5fWaQqM1-hsU

[@robscott9414]

You're still talkin 'bout music, right? 🙂

[@censorshipsucks9493]

@@robscott9414 Um, yeah...sure.

[@Michael-dy2lb]

Donnie comes out there looking like some kind of uber-nerd, just rocks the song away, and then shows off the pipes at the end. The man can wail! Love this song so much.

[@TLAS]

More like an 80’s version of Buddy Holly.

[@crescentfreshbret]

@@TLASHe looks like if Eugene Levy had been a rockstar instead of a comedian/actor.

[@hellokimmy68]

I never remember this song off the top of my head, but every time I hear it, I remember how just excellent it is.

[@The80sCat]

80's staple. Like that it has a little harder edge. Really hoping for Don Felder's "Heavy Metal".

[@joes2514]

One of my ALL-TIME favorite songs! It rocks from start to finish. They don't make them like this ANYMORE!!

[@kellifranklin9872]

I love love LOVE this song! I’ve seen Donny in concert a few times and I was able to meet him once and he was just the nicest guy. I’ve always loved this song. I’m so happy y’all are listening to this gem!

[@michaelasay8587]

Did he do much music?

[@georgecruces1953]

One of my all time favorite songs.

[@Robert-un7br]

This is an amazing song! It kind of encapsulates the era of the early 80s. Life was good and the music shows it. 🔥

[@Gary-And-His-Demons]

Feb 28 2024 happy birthday to Donnie Iris, he turns 81 today. This song is still as good as the day it came out in October 1980!!! Happy birthday, you rocking old fart that looks like Howie Mandel and Buddy Holly had a baby!!!

[@crescentfreshbret]

I think he looks exactly like Eugene Levy did back then.

[@RicoCosta317]

Donnie Iris, born Ierace (same pronunciation), is from Ellwood City, a small West PA town where I also grew up. He's my sister-in-laws cousin and one of the nicest guys I ever met. He played in a band called the Jagggerz in the 70's and they had a #2 hit with The Rapper, which you would love, and he was also part of Wild Cherry, which you mentioned, The album that this from and the song put him on the national map again. You should really react to Agnes from this album also, another banger. Saw him in concert in 1980 and it was one of the best I've seen. Earlier this year he did one for his 80th birthday celebration. A great guy and an amazing singer, so glad you did this!

[@lorirobinson511]

Great post! If you live anywhere near here you just gotta love him!

[@davidbordonaro1631]

I'm from New Castle - never met him but have seen him a few times

[@dmanwainright2132]

Oh man, that is coolness, thank you!!

[@AIGeneratedUser]

And he’s performing this Saturday still at 81 in Pittsburgh!

[@92nog]

I’ve been following you for a couple of days and my husband (retired drummer from England) and I are already big fans of yours. Another great choice! Thank you! Memories!! 🎶🎶🎶

[@jhood758]

They love the ‘70s & 80’. They’re pretty awesome.

[@isaackovitz4791]

This is one of the greatest rock n roll songs ever made - glad you finally got to this. The layering in this recording was groundbreaking.

[@surlechapeau]

Jay & Amber, Donnie wrote the #2 hit, "The Rapper", when he was a singer/guitarist with the Jaggerz (1970). Try his "Love Is Like a Rock" next.

[@KenRoerden]

They will love The Rapper.

[@davidteller7681]

I still have "The Rapper" on a 45 from when I was a kid

[@dragonan5674]

Thanks for reminding me of that song! Haven't heard it in ages. I believe Jay and Amber WOULD love it!!!

[@johntiggleman4686]

I remember "The Rapper." Haven't heard it forever, but that's what KZbin is for.

[@phila3884]

Wow. I thought I knew music trivia, but had no idea this guy aas in the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry. What an eclectic mix of music styles. This song I dug back in the day, but remember it was "in" and then out in a very short amount of time.

[@dyrkeschaefer]

Absolutely love this track. Always have.

[@gradyrocks]

Love love love love love this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Mark-zu6oz]

Another fun song by Donny is "Love is Like a Rock."

[@lindabraudaway5303]

My favorite lyric was “we both know we’re never gonna make it but when we touch we never have to fake it Leah”

[@jefferybrown1806]

Absolutely LOVE this song. Brings back a lot of memories

[@rayburn2007]

Every voice is him even the background vocals

[@bernerandgoldenmom7143]

This has become SUCH a 80s cult classic!! Everybody loved this song back in the day--no idea why it didn't do better on the charts. I was a junior/senior in HS then and the timing was perfect for a song like this. And you are right on, Amber--he was of the Elvis Costello-Ric Ocasek (Cars)-David Byrne (Talking Heads) type. So glad you liked this one! ❤

[@brentcox7772]

Absolutely love this song!! Thanks for this one!!🤘🔥

[@teresab0713]

Finally - I love ‘Ah Leah’ 💕💕💕 “Love is Like a Rock” - another fun Donnie Iris song 🙂

[@RocknRolla2023]

Very awesome song. Grew up with it and still love it today. Glad y’all reviewed it. ❤️

[@scotty4569]

I'm SO glad that you did this song by Donnie! He's an old friend that I used to do a lot of recording with and I'll tell him that you reacted to his song! He'll be thrilled! Donnie's most famous early band was The Jaggerz with their hit "The Rapper." It's a must listen. Classic track! Donnie has had about 11 or 12 albums and ep's put out as a solo artist, so there is much to pick from if you want to continue reacting to him. My next suggestion for you is the hit "Love Is Like A Rock."

[@KMK7355]

The Rapper was 1970 and was huge. I was in 9th grade in Greater Boston.

[@frankiebanali4202]

Donnie Iris is a true classic. He is still playing live! As with all of us, he is getting older, but he still sounds incredible. I'd recommend anyone who likes this song to also check out some of his live videos. He can still hit the notes.

[@sallyphillips9175]

He's 80!

[@BryanWicks]

The man is 80 and still jamming?! Mad props to him!

[@Debcatawba]

Donnie Iris opened for Michael Stanley like s gazillion times.

[@johnhegarty1761]

Speaking of Michael Stanley how about In The Heartland from the Michael Stanley Band.

[@Debcatawba]

@@johnhegarty1761 Let’s Get The Show On The Road Why Should Love Be This Way Broken Radio In Between The Lines One Good Reason Take The Time Ladies Choice Liars Moon Rosewood Bitters Coming Up For Air Lover Home Tonight Another New Year’s Eve Spanish Nights Working Again Somewhere In The Night Complicated Send Away Underwear Misery Loves Company

[@johnrogan9729]

Donnie was born in my hometown of New Castle, PA. He was raised in Ellwood City, PA which is only a stones throw away. Amazing talent and hell of a guy.

[@davea2288]

Hey, so was I! And while attending college as a commuter student from NC to CCBC in Monaca every day from '79 to '81, this played on WDVE and other stations and so I had to get the 45. During the time of this single Donnie got profiled on channel 2 Evening Magazine tv show, and besides music, was an autobody shop owner in New Brighton, IIRC. A girl I worked with at one time graduated high school with him and said she remembered that in high school he was always playing guitar in bands.

[@TheOicyu812]

Always loved this song and still have a 45rpm single on vinyl! Donnis Iris is what I would imagine actor Eugene Levy would look like if he'd been a rock musician.

[@chuckpearson5537]

My first thought "that's Eugene Levey's illegitimate son.

[@marke7441]

Loved that song back in the day. Looking back at it today, I have to say it was even better than I remembered.

[@flash1660]

Just flat out a GREAT song !

[@nancysmith8626]

Your reaction at the end cracked me up! Didn't see that coming, did you? Ha. This song is so awesome, a total classic. Love the appreciation for it!

[@c.willharden9589]

DONNIE IRIS ~ "LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK" 😎

[@jakelong3322]

That's awesome! I just met Donnie at a local speak easy I go to in Ohio. We celebrated his birthday there. Super nice guy

[@cdfdesantis699]

One of my all-time fave songs! Donnie is 80 yrs. old, & STILL rockin'! Thanks for your reaction.

[@brittanybigelow4287]

I loved both your reactions to his screaming voice towards the end. 👌🏼😁❤️

[@tonickton]

One of the VERY BEST SONGS of its era!!!

[@davidbradley9204]

Nerd wins the supermodel! Right from the first note, the bass line and drum lead in is a hook.

[@timskelton2325]

Love is like a Rock was Donnie's other big hit. Killer bass,drums, and vocals.

[@ronfaulkner3925]

I love this guy. This was my college years. The man is a Pittsburgh legend. Agnes, from the same album is under appreciated.

[@michaelnerychel6727]

Donnie wasn't in "Wild Cherry" when they did "Play that Funky Music" he joined later on. He has been around in a lot of different things finally having a few hits on his own, this probably his most famous one, hit #29 billboard in 1980

[@michaeltorcaso7721]

Donnie Iris hits it out of the park with this song, it soars like an eagle, as American as a fresh baked apple pie, old glory waves in the wind of sound to this rock anthem

[@bethbodee]

Love Donnie! ❤He’s royalty around Pittsburgh! 👑 He just turned 80 & still rocks da haus! Super nice guy too!

[@fredricclack7137]

SO 👍 in Concert!

[@sandimcalisterblood2675]

One of the songs that I never get tired of listening to❤

[@corinaperez226]

One of the songs that makes me grateful I grew up on this music.

[@nozzlechief36]

Love this song and the arrangment...perfect 80s song

[@Randy-fx1rm]

Love You Love Donnie AND ...LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK Is a fun one as well.

[@genaroperez81]

Never knew the connection between Wild Cherry and Donnie Iris. See, you get educated on this site too. Thanks guys.

[@charlesharris9692]

I've heard this song probably dozens of times as sort of background noise in different places and never payed much attention to it. Now, in my daily Rob Squad therapy, I've listened to it for the first time. Wow! Fabulous song! Thanks so much for the eye opener. You two are the best!

[@jrasak]

Love is like a rock - even better! Keep up the good work! 🔥🔥🔥

[@RhettAnderson]

Great song. I love "Do You Compute?" too.

[@jaesawyer2206]

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITES!! YEAH!!

[@traci4187]

This is one of those songs that I will NEVER tire of! "You're such a sight - You're lookin' better than a body has a right to" is such an excellent lyric!

[@christopherwinkler4451]

Yea!!!! It was so much fun watching you react to this. As a native and life-long resident of Western PA Donnie is an absolute ICON here. Ah! Leah! is perhaps the greatest singalong rocker of all time (though few can actually hit those notes at the end, lol). I'm old enough that I go all the way back to his time with The Jaggerz and their hit The Rapper. Please do Love Is Like A Rock next.

[@elizabethfranco1284]

The best thing about reaction channels is that they help you remember the songs you forgot you liked!

[@melaniejordan1199]

O M Goodness! I always pictured this dude as a hunk with that voice. Crazy to see him in this video. Still bangin' voice, guitar, musicality.

[@chiefsohcahtoa3285]

Another Donnie Iris tune is "Love is Like a Rock"

[@chestrockwell8328]

Ah Leah has been one of my all time favorite songs since the first time I heard it back in the 80's, still can not listen to this song loud enough, certified turn it to eleven song.

[@hawkeyegeorge]

This song kicks ass!

[@AI_Surfer]

'Do You Compute' by Donnie Iris is another great tune of his.

[@dustinjones8887]

So many great choices lately Rob Squad!! Love watching you two go wild on the screams----reminds me to have Rob Squad check out Prince with the song "Kiss". The 80's was stacked with great music. Seemingly never ending.

[@chriswilliams2504]

Love is like a rock by him is awesome as well. I think you will like it.

[@Guildofarcanelore]

This is a great tune! I think she would love the funky music too!

[@BillGraper]

She definitely has to hear that white boy play that funky music. LOLzzz.

[@improperbostonian6722]

Yes it's 1980 again rolling & smoking bones and rocking to Leah on WBCN 104.1 FM The Rock! of Boston!

[@RobynHurley-zp9sh]

Oh yeah!!! Loved BCN! I still live in Massachusetts and we have zlx now

[@vickiroman189]

This is absolutely one of my all-time favorites. So happy you both enjoyed it so much!

[@completecharleston7142]

Fun fact - many years ago, back in the day, Donnie performed in concert at Fargo, ND , and opened up the night with "Hello, South Dakota", which started everyone booing (hey it was NORTH Dakota, not South) - concert was good tho. Also back in the day, our band played his other hit "Love Is Like A Rock".

[@michelesanville8822]

Thank you for reminding me how FREAKIN AMAZING this song is. Loved it since my teen years, but never knew it was by the lead singer of Wild Cherry 🍒 ❤

[@keithrodgers6634]

Donnie Iris joined Wild Cherry after Play That Funky Music. He wasn’t on that song

[@rhaleymusic]

Nice getting to DI! He was with Wild Cherry but only on their last album (this was after PTFM).

[@larrywilliams5014]

Love this song so much. It's been on every device and/or playlist since the first time I heard it.

[@scottgarber7363]

Enjoyed rocking out with you guys. Great song!

[@jimflores9098]

This song was HUGE in the Summer of 81....

[@angiesuarez773]

Always loved this song!!! Took me years to find out who sang it... 😊👍 Total Jam!!!

[@jamesgonzales5285]

Cruising Royalty!! So I'm told... 🙂😃😄 F*cking aye right!! This was the jam!!!

[@cherylmcgrady8768]

He is fantastic. What a performer 😊

[@1kelbrat1]

One of my earliest memories of childhood was this song. What a banger. 👏🏼

[@mapegatkinson92]

He just turned 80 and is still rockin'

[@stevekaczmarczyk9701]

I forget how good that song is,,,,, thanks for reminding me,, I'm 56 and Old school 80s

[@planelvr07]

I love this song, always have! I love that every single vocal track is sung by him.

[@GNXXRAY]

He’s still rockin’ at 80 years old too

[@marleneobstnash5517]

Donnie starts starts off strong and NEVER LETS GO!! Right to the last note, he's giving his all! 🎵🎵 I first heard this song at a rock club when a cover band played it in the early 80s. I found out who the artist was and became a Donnie Iris fan! I played this song so much, my dorm mates wanted to kill me! Thanks for getting to this fabulous artist! ❤❤

[@sandragray4598]

There's so much in this song. I love it.

[@dagfincarp1113]

If you ever been attracted to someone you knew was bad for you, this song hits hard. This is always in my playlists.