Chuck Negron, a founding member of Three Dog Night whose lead vocals powered a string of hits including “Joy to the World,” “One” and “An Old Fashioned Love Song” for one of the top rock acts of the late 1960s and early ’70s, died Monday. He was 83.
He died of complications from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to his publicist Zach Farnum.
Among other hits Negron sang lead on were “Easy To Be Hard” and “The Show Must Go On.” He was dismissed from the band in late 1985 because of recurring drug issues.
In 1967, Negron joined Danny Hutton and Cory Wells to form Three Dog Night, a vocal trio with roots in R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, and urban doo wop. They found success two years later with their first million-selling single “One,” written by Harry Nilsson.
Charles Negron II was born June 8, 1942, to Charles Negron, a Puerto Rican nightclub performer, and Elizabeth Rooke, though the couple divorced when he was two years old. He grew up in the Bronx, playing basketball and singing in doo-wop groups from an early age. He was recruited by Allan Hancock College and, later, California State University to play basketball, bringing him to Los Angeles where he continued to explore work in music. In 1967, he joined Hutton and the late Cory Wells to form Three Dog Night, a vocal trio focused on brilliant harmonies, cutting-edge production, and a well-chosen list of songs to record. This approach made them one of the most successful bands of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The band was expanded to include guitarist Michael Allsup, and the late musicians Jimmy Greenspoon, Joe Schermie, and Floyd Sneed. Hutton and Allsup are the last living members of the original band, and continue to tour as Three Dog Night.
