Three Dog Night star Chuck Negron dies at 83 – cause of death revealed

Chuck Negron, the iconic voice behind Three Dog Night’s biggest hits, has died at age 83. The founding member passed away on Feb. 2 at his home in Studio City, California, surrounded by family, after battling heart failure and COPD.

Raised in the Bronx, Negron discovered music early, performing in doo-wop groups and on the Apollo Theater stage by age 15. He later moved to California, where he co-founded Three Dog Night in 1967 alongside Danny Hutton and Cory Wells.

Negron’s powerful vocals defined the band’s sound on timeless hits like “Joy to the World,” “One,” and “Easy to Be Hard.” At their peak, the band’s success was overshadowed by drug abuse and internal conflicts, leading to its breakup.

After years of addiction, Negron achieved sobriety in 1991 and rebuilt his life, releasing seven solo albums and sharing his story in the memoir Three Dog Nightmare. He continued touring into his later years until health issues and the pandemic forced him to stop.

Negron is remembered not only for his musical legacy, but for his perseverance through struggle and his devotion to family.