The Story Behind Ah Leah! by Donnie Iris

Here's the story behind Donnie Iris and the Cruiser's classic song "Ah! Leah!" from their 1980 release, Back on the Streets.
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[@wendyfutral3777]

I was a teenager when I first heard this song. I thought what a beautiful name that is. 10 years later I had my only child, and yes I named her Leah. She's the reason for every breath I take. Thank you Donnie. 🥰

[@carolnahigian9518]

God bless her heart ( Leah)& your Heart too💚🌼

[@marksavage1744]

I'm a trucker from western PA and heard this song on the radio near St Louis this morning. Donnie has been big part of the Pittsburgh area music scene for over a half century! Oddly enough, I just delivered a load of steel plates to Ellwood City, the town Donnie's 2006 album is named after. Rock on!

[@rootdoc1997]

There were some great songs on that

[@777indigobabe]

I have loved this song my entire life. The name Leah is beautiful too

[@RetroMusicMemories]

I saw Donnie perform it live last year at his 80th birthday party concert. He still sounds incredible!

[@candydale8380]

Adore this tune!!! It's like ingrained in my soul.........❤❤❤

[@nanais007]

One of my ATF songs. I remember when it hit the air. Amazing song!

[@susanprather1021]

Love love love this song!

[@endorse8]

Ah Leah is one of my all time favorites! Thanks for the recommendation of Little Black Dress. I hadn't heard it before but it's become a great addition to my music library!

[@colinmontgomery1956]

Absolutely awesome song.

[@fredricclack7137]

SO 👍 in Concert!😊

[@toddhazzard1562]

That song was cool. Was on the Radio over a year. A song that I believe Benchmarked the 1980s

[@danddstorytime232]

I always thought the namesake of this song was my sister Leah who used to get her hair cut by Donnie’s wife, Linda, and sometimes Donnie would come into the beauty shop. Not that the song was ABOUT her, but maybe that’s where they got the name .

[@toddfowler4017]

Ahh Donny! Thanks for NOT forgetting him, Mr. Dave! As usual, your research is great, and I now know what I need to know about one of my favorite songs!!📻👓🎤🎸🎹🥁🇺🇸

[@RetroMusicMemories]

My pleasure, Todd!

[@toddfowler4017]

@@RetroMusicMemories 👌

[@Thresher]

Love love love this song.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Me too, Tom. 🙂

[@gregreid1165]

Less corona virus - more Donnie Iris!!!!!!!

[@resetsetmefree478]

More Corona beer!!!

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Love it!

[@joshuamione1651]

Before Ah! Leah! Donnie Iris was in Wild Cherry.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I never heard of this but I love your story behind the song series!! 👍👍🙂

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Thanks CK!

[@ronaldolaquidara64]

U must be a youngin Or u lived on a 🏝 w/ no music lolz 😹😂

[@tammyevans7333]

First I ever heard of them! Nice

[@cadeevans4623]

Never heard of this or them Dave cool thanks for sharing the story behind this I'll have to check them out awesome info👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Definitely check them out. They are great!

[@cadeevans4623]

I will Dave I'll definitely check them out man thanks for sharing Dave

[@sr2545]

At about 3:57, He mentions that we should check out donnie iris and the cruisers " little black dress " from 2006. I just checked the song out and he's not wrong. Amazing song.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Good to hear that I'm not wrong!

[@Aaron-lj9if]

I couldn't find the name of the artist or song. They didn't say either on the radio. It took me years, I found the name and have wore out tape's anyway I have it on my phone. I was 20 when it came out.

[@CamiMack5616]

Always thought it was about a purely physical relationship, between two people with nothing in common except sex, and trying to make anything more of it, turns toxic really quick.

[@user-ri5gf5mk3u]

I agree with you 100% (Calling it a "love song" is kind of putting a g-rated spin on it, I guess!)

[@leahloveslola]

Love this

[@retrocereal]

Cool story. I like this series!

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Thanks Ean!

[@macconmara7252]

Great video Dave. I had forgotten about this song-I will have to add to my play list. I do disagree that all songs have a story -to paraphrase Keith Richards-sometimes a song is just a song but it sure is fun attaching meaning to songs we love or when a songwriter tells the story behind our favorites.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Sometimes the fact that the song doesn't have a story is the story!

[@videobenny3]

I’m sure the Professor of Rock used this material for his recent take on Ah Leah. Great song. Thanks for the research.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

I'm happy to hear that I was able to help the good professor out!

[@protorhinocerator142]

Am I alone in wanting to meet every woman they ever made a song about? Layla, Rhianna, Eileen, Merilee, etc. And I definitely want to meet Leah, back in the day of course. Sharona can be seen on the cover for the My Sharona single, btw.

[@rootdoc1997]

Funny Bon Jovi opened for Donnie at Univ of Pittsburgh campus in the 80s

[@raymondkizer1216]

Sounds like you’ve done your research as I wanted to add something to this, but you covered it all.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Thanks Raymond! I tried.

[@karmicselling4252]

The biggest unanswered question about this song ... Who was the actress who played the lady in the original video? It looks like Dianne Lynn Batts also known as Dian Parkinson.

[@thedailydanblog247]

Good stuff Dave

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Thanks Danny!

[@chuckeecheeze4649]

Fact: Arabic - aa li ya - high born, exhalted, sublime. It certainly fits with the ode to a lady. Plus. Leah is a special name for some of us.

[@alisterfolson]

"You know, the good stuff." 👍

[@tommccallan8802]

It's a perfect R.R. song

[@jameskipp1657]

I had always wondered if there was some sort of link to the story of Jacob and Leah in the Bible. Especially the line "Here we go again" perhaps a reference to the seven additional years Leah's father made Jacob work for Rachel. Maybe Leah is who he was meant to be with.

[@MONSTERMADHOUSETV]

The BIG question is...who was the actress in the video?

[@johncollins1884]

Good video, thank for the story. Are there more videos in the "Behind The Song" series? Are they in a "playlist"?

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Yes, there are more. Here's a link to the playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL4fDgkADGvzmjte9Ir1MwXb9ycxomxyy2

[@skiprockjr.6881]

I knew about Donnie Iris for a couple decades before I found out he was in The Jaggerz.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

They had a huge hit with "The Rapper". 🙂

[@skiprockjr.6881]

@@RetroMusicMemories For some coffee, or tea, or me.

[@rawbacon]

I've heard that song so many times but never even knew who the artist was. I see Norm MacDonald died........He was a Funny Feller, only 61.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Super sad news about Norm. 😥

[@JacobRebb]

This song was written about my mom Leah Edlow, she met Donnie in the 80’s while she was dating Steve Perry from journey!

[@RetroMusicMemories]

No way! I bet your mother told you a few stories. Any chance you'd be willing to do a video interview with me?

[@skiptowne5724]

Yeah, and I dumped Stevie Nicks for Gwen Stefani.

[@MaxGiganteum]

I call BS... the album this song was on was released in July 1980. With the lead time for minimal production of records and distribution, one can only assume that the album was recorded at least three whole months before that if not further back in time. It would be safe to assume that the album was recorded at the latest in the first quarter of 1980 and quite possibly in the last quarter of 1979. As the facts stand, this song couldn't possibly be about your mother if she didn't meet him until sometime in the 80s as you put it. She would have had to have known him in the seventies if your story is true. I have no reason to believe that it is... without actual proof. Best wishes! 🤔👨🏻‍🎤🎸 - Max Giganteum

[@labluvver]

@@MaxGiganteum I feel like you fell for the ruse, Max.

[@scottartus4097]

It was a great long before i met a crush in college. Well Whatr you gonna do

[@michaelrochester48]

Love is like a rock is also awesome. Wasn’t that Kim Cottrell in the famous music video

[@RetroMusicMemories]

I love the song as well! But...I don't remember ever seeing an official music video for that song.

[@michaelrochester48]

@@RetroMusicMemories It’s on KZbin … MTV played a live version of the song in the early days of MTV

[@karl6852]

No

[@bryanovalasiti3555]

Sounds like he is saying AALIYAH

[@mobydick3895]

Who is the woman in the video?

[@LarryWhite-kw5mj]

Didnt see don iris playing the strat,can he play it?

[@Agislife1960]

So who was the original author of the song?

[@RetroMusicMemories]

Donnie Iris and Mark Avsec

[@noahroad6577]

I use to think it said “Omni” 😂

[@tommccallan8802]

For years I thought it was "THE UNREAL "

[@derekcrymble9085]

Girl's name ?

[@chuckeecheeze4649]

Naw. That's all well and good, but we can plainly see that Howie Mandel dressed up like Eugene Levy and picked up a guitar.

[@RetroMusicMemories]

To funny!

[@DungeonStudio]

Okay, I'm probably stretching it here - but wouldn't it be funny if this tune inspired John Lydon to open the classic Public Image Ltd. Flowers Of Romance album with his chant of 'Allah...' You never know?

[@hedeviltazz4185]

anti war in 1980? great song but the anti war thing is nuts.