Chuck Negron, Founding Member of Three Dog Night, Dies at 83

Chuck Negron, founding member and lead vocalist of Three Dog Night, has died. He was 83.

Negron died Monday (Feb. 2) at his home in Studio City, California, surrounded by family, according to a statement shared with Billboard. No immediate cause of death was announced, though the singer had been living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for decades and had recently battled heart failure.

Born Charles Negron II on June 8, 1942, Negron grew up in the Bronx, where he sang in doo-wop groups before earning a basketball scholarship that brought him to Los Angeles. In 1967, he joined Danny Hutton and the late Cory Wells to form Three Dog Night, a vocal trio built around harmony-driven arrangements and carefully selected songs from outside writers — a strategy that helped make the group one of the most commercially successful acts of the late 1960s and early ’70s.

Negron’s unmistakable lead vocals powered many of the band’s biggest hits, including “Joy to the World,” “One,” “Easy to Be Hard,” “Old Fashioned Love Song” and “The Show Must Go On.” Between 1969 and 1975, Three Dog Night scored three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the era’s most dominant radio acts.

As the band’s success escalated rapidly, Negron struggled with addiction, a battle that contributed to internal fractures and the group’s eventual breakup at the height of its popularity. His addiction led to severe personal and financial hardship, including a period of homelessness in Los Angeles. After multiple rehabilitation attempts, Negron became sober in 1991.

He later documented his experiences in the 1999 memoir Three Dog Nightmare, an unflinching account of fame, addiction and recovery. In the years that followed, Negron released seven solo albums between 1995 and 2017 and became an outspoken advocate for addiction recovery, frequently sharing his story to support others facing similar struggles.

Despite long-term health challenges, Negron continued touring for many years, developing methods to preserve his voice while managing COPD. He remained proud of his vocal ability until his final performances, stepping away from touring during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the risks posed by his condition.

Negron is survived by his wife, Ami Albea Negron; his children Shaunti Negron Levick, Berry Oakley, Charles Negron III, Charlotte Negron and Annabelle Negron; nine grandchildren; and several extended family members.

He was predeceased by his parents and his twin sister, Nancy Negron Dean. Last year, Negron and fellow Three Dog Night founder Danny Hutton reunited after decades of estrangement to reconcile.