For 45 years, Donnie Iris gave me two songs I never stopped loving: “Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like a Rock.” But somehow, despite a lifetime spent exploring rock ’n’ roll, I never discovered the remarkable musician behind them. Now, with the news of his passing, I’m taking a long-overdue musical journey through the Jaggerz, Wild Cherry, and the Cruisers. Along the way, I’m revisiting a treasured teenage memory, uncovering some wonderful rock history, and paying tribute to a man who deserved far more of my curiosity. Because Donnie Iris wasn't just worth listening to. He was worth discovering.