Chuck Negron, a founding member of the rock group Three Dog Night and the lead singer on some of the band’s most enduring hits, has died. He was 83.
Negron died Monday at his home in Studio City, California, surrounded by family, according to a statement from his publicist.
Negron’s distinctive voice helped define Three Dog Night’s run as one of the most successful pop-rock acts of the late 1960s and early ’70s. He sang lead on classics including “Joy to the World (Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog),” “One (Is the Loneliest Number),” “Old Fashioned Love Song,” “The Show Must Go On,” and “Easy to Be Hard.”
Three Dog Night was formed in 1967 by Negron, Danny Hutton, and Cory Wells. Though the group sometimes faced criticism during the singer-songwriter era for not writing its own material, it achieved remarkable commercial success, notching 21 Top 40 hits. The band recorded songs by a wide range of prominent writers, including Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Laura Nyro, Paul Williams, and Neil Young.
The group released its self-titled debut album in 1968, which went platinum. Negron sang lead on “One,” the band’s first major hit, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the next several years, Three Dog Night produced a string of gold albums and scored two No. 1 singles, including Negron’s signature performance on “Joy to the World” in 1971.
The band’s original partnership unraveled in the mid-1970s amid internal tensions and Negron’s widely known struggles with drug addiction. After periods of breakup and reunion, Hutton continued touring under the name Three Dog Night, while Negron pursued a solo career on the oldies circuit until the pandemic ended live performances.
In his later years, Negron faced chronic health challenges, including COPD and heart failure. He is survived by his wife, Ami Albea Negron, his children, extended family, and nine grandchildren.
Source: Variety