He appeared in more than 300 episodes over 35 years. Mike Tomaro, the head of the jazz studies department at Duquesne University, calls Negri, 'Not just a Pittsburgh treasure, but a musical treasure.' You may also recognize him as 'Handyman Negri' from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, the guy who solved problems in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. The judges must have seen that something special because Joe went on to become one of the most recognized names in Pittsburgh music circles and perhaps one of the best jazz guitarists in the country. He was chosen to become one of 'Pittsburgh's Stars of Tomorrow' as a child. Joe Negri says his career has been a 'work in progress' since he was 3-years-old. 'He's an oldie but a goodie!' He currently works for Sail Mortgage in Wexford. I listen to it when I run and it always puts me in the right frame of mind and always puts a smile on my face!' 14 Albums later, Iris is still making music, and has unreleased material he hopes to make available. Maybe it's a little bit of both, but I cannot hear 'Ah Leah' too many times. The group's first album 'Back On The Streets' launched them to fame with the track 'Ah! Leah!' One KDKA Staffer said, 'Maybe it's the era that I grew up.

Iris formed Donnie Iris & The Cruisers in 1980 along with Mark Avsec, a keyboardist from Wild Cherry. After the Jaggerz broke up in 1976, Iris toured with Wild Cherry, whose 1976 hit 'Play That Funky Music' was also the basis of a top five US hit for Vanilla Ice in 1990. The Jaggerz became famous for its #2 hit 'The Rapper' in 1970. obviously spelled to pay homage to Pittsburgh's own special language 'Pittsburghese'.

The Slippery Rock alumni fist hit the national music scene as the lead singer of The Jaggerz.

Donnie Lerace was born and raised in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania.

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