Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night Passes Away at 83 After Health Battle
Chuck Negron, a renowned vocalist and founding member of the iconic rock band Three Dog Night, has passed away at the age of 83. His publicist, Zach Farnum, reported that Negron died at his home in Studio City, Los Angeles, due to complications from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Career Highlights of Chuck Negron
Negron played a vital role in shaping Three Dog Night’s sound during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band produced numerous hits, including:
- “Joy to the World”
- “One”
- “An Old Fashioned Love Song”
- “Easy to Be Hard”
- “The Show Must Go On”
- “Black and White”
- “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)”
- “Never Been to Spain”
- “Shambala”
In December 1972, Three Dog Night became the first musical act to perform on Dick Clark’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” showcasing their popularity.
Struggles and Rebirth
By 1975, the band faced declining album sales, marking their last Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Til the World Ends.” Internal tensions led to their disbandment a year later. Although Three Dog Night reunited in 1981, Negron’s battles with substance abuse resulted in his dismissal from the group in 1985.
Negron, originally from the Bronx, New York, co-founded Three Dog Night in 1967 with Danny Hutton and Cory Wells. Their first million-selling single, “One,” was released in 1969.
Personal Life and Later Years
Throughout his rise to fame, Negron struggled with heavy drug use, even enduring a stint on Skid Row. After multiple rehabilitation attempts, he achieved sobriety in 1991 and cultivates a successful solo career, releasing seven albums from 1995 to 2017. His autobiography, “Three Dog Nightmare,” chronicles his tumultuous life journey.
In recent years, Negron reconnected with Hutton after years of estrangement. Following his enduring health issues, including chronic COPD that lasted for three decades, Negron was permanently sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Negron leaves behind his wife, Ami Albea Negron, and five children, including Berry Oakley Jr., the son of the Allman Brothers Band bassist, Berry Oakley, who died in a motorcycle accident in 1972. Negron had previously been married to Julia Negron, with whom he helped raise Berry Jr.
Legacy of Chuck Negron
Chuck Negron’s contributions to music and his remarkable journey through personal struggles will be remembered by fans and fellow musicians alike. Three Dog Night remains a staple of classic rock, thanks in large part to his powerful vocals and dynamic presence.
