Chuck Negron, a founding member of the renowned group "Three Dog Night," has died at the age of 83. His voice played a key role in the hits of "Three Dog Night," one of the most popular rock bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s, such as "Joy to the World," "One," and "An Old Fashioned Love Song."
Redaksiya reports that Negron passed away at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles due to heart failure and a severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). His publicist, Zak Farnum, confirmed the news. Negron also provided vocals on the songs "Easy To Be Hard" and "The Show Must Go On." Other hits by the band include "Black and White," "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," "Never Been to Spain," and "Shambala." In December 1972, the group performed on the inaugural broadcast of Dick Clark's "New Year's Rockin' Eve."
By 1975, album sales declined, and the group had its last hit on the "Billboard Hot 100" with the song "Til the World Ends." Internal conflicts led to the band's breakup the following year. The group reunited in 1981, but Negron was dismissed from the band in late 1985 due to drug problems. In 1967, Negron, along with Danny Hutton and Cory Wells, founded "Three Dog Night," a vocal trio with roots in R&B, rock-n-roll, and urban doo-wop. They achieved success two years later with their first million-selling single, "One," written by Harry Nilsson. Negron struggled with heavy drug use during the band's rapid rise to fame. He spent his fortune on drugs and even lived on Los Angeles' Skid Row for a period. After numerous rehabilitation attempts, he achieved sobriety in 1991 and launched a successful solo career, releasing seven albums between 1995 and 2017. His 1999 book, "Three Dog Nightmare," chronicled his rise and fall. Last year, he and Hutton reconciled after a long-standing estrangement. Hutton and Michael Allsup are the only surviving members of the group. Born Charles Negron II on June 8, 1942, he grew up singing in doo-wop groups in the Bronx from an early age. His parents divorced when he was 2 years old. He was recruited to play basketball at California State University, which brought him to Los Angeles, where he began working in the music industry. In later years, Negron performed concerts for three decades despite his chronic COPD. The COVID-19 pandemic permanently sidelined him from performing. Negron is survived by his wife, Ami Albea Negron, and five children, including Berry Oakley Jr., the son of "Allman Brothers Band" bassist Berry Oakley, who died in a motorcycle accident in 1972. Negron was briefly married to Oakley's mother, Julia Negron, and helped raise baby Berry Jr.