Three Dog Night's Chuck Negron Dies at 83

Chuck Negron, a founding member and lead vocalist of the 1970s rock band Three Dog Night, died on Monday at his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 83.

Negron passed away from complications of heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, conditions he had battled for years, according to his publicist, Zach Farnum. He was surrounded by family at the time of his death. Negron is survived by his wife, Ami Albea Negron; his children, Shaunti Negron Levick, Berry Oakley, Charles Negron III, Charlotte Negron, and Annabelle Negron; his siblings, Rene Jody Negron and Denise Janey Negron; nine grandchildren; five nieces; two nephews; and the mothers of his children.

Born on June 8, 1942, in the Bronx to a Puerto Rican nightclub performer father and an American mother, Negron grew up singing in doo-wop groups and playing basketball. He moved to Los Angeles for college athletics before pursuing music full time. In 1967, he co-founded Three Dog Night with Danny Hutton and Cory Wells, forming a vocal trio that expanded to include guitarist Michael Allsup, keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon, bassist Joe Schermie, and drummer Floyd Sneed. The band drew from rhythm...