Three Dog Night was a unique concept in the rock world—a band with 3 lead singers. Corey Wells left us in 2015. Chuck Negron passed away this week (February 2nd).
Three Dog Night formed in 1968 and scored 2 hit singles with their very first album: "Try a Little Tenderness" and "One." From there, they put together an amazing string of 21 consecutive singles that all landed in Billboard's Top 40. That included 3 number ones, one of which went on to become the #1 song of 1971 ("Joy to the World"). The strain of constant touring and the rock & roll lifestyle brought their career to a screeching halt in 1976. The group reformed in 1981, but by then, they were already a nostalgia act.
Negron's serious drug addiction led him to be dropped from the band in 1985. Negron eventually found recovery, but was unable to mend fences with Wells and the other "Dog," Danny Hutton. Negron continued to perform as a solo singer while Hutton continues to perform under the Three Dog Night name.
For reasons that escape anyone with a knowledge of popular music, Three Dog Night has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hopefully, this will be corrected soon.
The rise and fall of Three Dog Night will be the subject of an upcoming episode of "Rock Remembered here at Boomtown America.
