Chuck Negron, Three Dog Night founding member who sang 'Joy to the World,' dies at 83
The vocalist sang lead on some of the band's biggest tracks, including "One" and "Old Fashioned Love Song."
Chuck Negron performing in 2018 Scott Dudelson/Getty© Scott Dudelson/Getty
Chuck Negron, founding member of Los Angeles rock band Three Dog Night who sang lead vocals on classics like “Joy to the World" and "One," has died. He was 83.
The musician died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones in his Studio City, Calif., home on Monday, his publicist announced in a news release. While a cause of death was not disclosed, Negron battled Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for three decades and also experienced heart failure in his final months. Born June 8, 1942, Charles Negron II grew up in the Bronx playing basketball and singing in local doo wop groups. His natural athletic ability led him to be recruited to play basketball for Allan Hancock College and then California State University, Los Angeles, where he continued to explore his passion for music simultaneously.
Chuck Negron performing in 2019 Scott Dudelson/Getty
It was in Los Angeles that Negron met and formed Three Dog Night with fellow founding members Danny Hutton and Cory Wells, the latter of whom died in 2015. The vocal trio became one of the most popular bands of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and later expanded its roster to include guitarist Michael Allsup as well as late musicians Jimmy Greenspoon, Joe Schermie, and Floyd Sneed.
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