Voice behind Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World," Chuck Negron, dies at 83

Los Angeles — Chuck Negron, a founding subordinate of Three Dog Night whose pb vocals powered a drawstring of hits including "Joy to the World," "One" and "An Old Fashioned Love Song" for 1 of the apical stone acts of the precocious 1960s and aboriginal '70s, died Monday. He was 83.

He died of complications from bosom nonaccomplishment and chronic obstructive pulmonary illness astatine his location successful the Studio City vicinity of Los Angeles, according to his publicist Zach Farnum.

Negron besides sang pb connected "Easy To Be Hard" and "The Show Must Go On." The band's different hits see "Black and White," "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," "Never Been to Spain" and "Shambala."

Chuck Negron, founding subordinate of Three Dog Night, performs during the 10th day of the Happy Together Tour astatine Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza connected July 18, 2019 successful Thousand Oaks, Calif. Scott Dudelson / Getty Images

In December 1972, the set hosted and performed connected the inaugural variation of Dick Clark's "New Year's Rockin' Eve."

By 1975, medium income had declined and the set had its past Billboard Hot 100 deed with "Til the World Ends." Internal strife fractured the radical and it fell isolated the adjacent year.

In 1981, the radical reunited, but Negron was dismissed successful precocious 1985 due to the fact that of recurring cause issues.

In 1967, Negron joined Danny Hutton and Cory Wells to signifier Three Dog Night, a vocal trio with roots successful R&B, stone 'n' rotation and municipality doo wop. They recovered occurrence 2 years aboriginal with their archetypal million-selling azygous "One," written by Harry Nilsson.

Negron engaged successful dense cause usage during the band's speedy ascension to the apical of the charts. He spent his luck connected drugs and adjacent ended up connected Los Angeles' Skid Row for a time.

After galore stints successful rehab, helium became sober successful 1991 and went connected to person a palmy solo career, releasing 7 albums betwixt 1995 and 2017. His 1999 book, "Three Dog Nightmare," elaborate his ups and downs.

After decades of estrangement betwixt him and Hutton, the 2 reconciled past year. Hutton and Michael Allsup are the lone surviving members.

Born Charles Negron II connected June 8, 1942, helium grew up successful the Bronx singing successful doo wop groups from an aboriginal age. His parents divorced erstwhile helium was 2. He was recruited by California State University to play basketball, which brought him to Los Angeles, wherever helium began moving successful the euphony industry.

In his aboriginal years, Negron toured contempt having chronic COPD for 3 decades. The COVID-19 pandemic sidelined him permanently.

Negron is survived by woman Ami Albea Negron and 5 children, including Berry Oakley Jr., the lad of Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley, who was killed successful a 1972 motorcycle accident. Negron was for a clip joined to Julia Negron, the younger Oakley's mother, and helped rise babe Berry Jr.