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From
a humble Bronx, New York apartment to success and
wealth far beyond anything he could imagine, the
Chuck Negron story is an amazing saga. For what
could have ended on a deadly downbeat is today a
wonderful story that gives us all hope and faith
that miracles do happen. Rock-n-Roll first made
a difference in Chuck’s life in the late 1950’s.
By the age of 15, he had recorded his first single
record and performed at the world famous Apollo
Theater with his vocal group “The Rondells.”
A stone cold dead silence ensued as the curtain
rose on the Rondells. “We were not just the
only white group on the bill,” Negron recalls,
“we were the only white people in the building.
But by our second verse, something magical happened.
The audience started to cheer us on.” That
night Negron learned an important lesson, that music
transcends all barriers and differences that people
might have. “That’s the power of music.”
Soon after his Apollo triumph, the teenage Chuck
Negron and the Rondells began haunting Manhattan’s
famous Brill Building. “I came to believe
that the difference between a good singer and a
great singer was the songs they sang. I looked to
see who was writing the great hits of the early
rock-n-roll years. The same names came up over and
over again; Leiber and Stoller, Goffin and King,
Mann and Weil, Bacharach and David, among others.”
They would go from office to office in hopes of
meeting some of these great writers to sing for
them. They performed 10 to 20 times a day for publishers
as well as record companies.
COLLEGE OR MUSIC
By 1961, it was decision time for his future.
Chuck had received several scholarships to play
college basketball. In addition, he had a desire
to pursue a music career. Chuck decided to do
both. He accepted an athletic scholarship from
Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California,
which was just a few hours from Hollywood. Chuck
was later recruited by Bill Sharman, coach at
Cal State, Los Angeles, a “stones throw”
from Hollywood and the recording industry. Now
in California, attending college and playing basketball,
obtaining a recording contract was next on Chuck’s
agenda. Columbia records came calling after Chuck
and the Sorenson Brothers had radio success in
central California with two single releases, “Sharon
Lee” on the Marlinda Records and “I
Dream Of An Angel” on the Heart Van Label.
In 1965, Columbia Records signed Chuck Negron-Rondell
to a recording contract. With his hoop life now
behind him, Negron arrived in Hollywood to make
a reputation as a recording artist and performer.
“I learned a great deal while on Columbia.
The producers and A&R people had total control.
They picked all my songs, the arrangements and
ultimately how the world would see me. I learned
you must be more than just a singer. You must
be able to define yourself in some special way.
A unique vocal style, image or presence, through
your song writing, or ability to pick great songs,
arrange and produce them.”
REACHING BACK TO HIS ROOTS
In 1967, Chuck Negron became a founding member
of Three Dog Night. A vocal trio whose roots would
be in R&B, rock-n-roll and urban doo wop,
but, whose music would be totally new and unique.
Chuck felt one thing might be missing. Great Songs!
Chuck went back to the publishers who represented
the great writers he loved as a teenager. These
publishers would also introduce Chuck to new,
up and coming writers. Chuck brought Harry Nilsson’s
“One” (Is The Loneliest Number) to
the group. Chuck also selected and sang lead on
Elton John’s first song to be released in
the U.S., “Lady Samantha.” He also
picked and sang Paul Williams’ “Old
Fashioned Love Song” and “Out In The
Country,” Laura Nyro’s “Eli’s
Coming,” David Loggins’ “Pieces
of April” and Hoyt Axton’s, “Joy
To The World.” Chuck also discovered many
other new writers as well. Built around the pop
soul vocals of Negron and Wells, great songs,
brilliant musicians and a powerful three part
harmony – few bands were as consistently
popular in concert or on the music charts. In
an era when Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and
Motown were competing for chart position, TDN
dominated the charts and sold 50 million records
by 1975 – 90 million records sold to date.
A CAREER WITHIN A CAREER
The world was introduced to Chuck Negron and
Three Dog Night in 1969 by the breakthrough –
and the band’s first million seller “One.”
Driven by Chuck Negron’s solo lead vocals
on 4 million selling singles, three #1 records
, (one which topped the charts for six weeks,
“Joy To The World,”) five top 5 hits
and seven top 40 hits, Negron put and kept Three
Dog Night on the charts for six years. His soaring,
soulful, four octave range and unique vocal styling
became a part of the American landscape. His gut
wrenching performance on the band’s follow
up hit to “One”, “Easy To Be
Hard” is now a pop classic, as is his beautiful
and smooth vocal on “Old Fashioned Love
Song.” Chuck’s unmistakable voice
exclaiming “Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog”
on the multi-Grammy nominated and 1971 Record
Of The Year, “Joy To The World” is
today a part of Americana, securing a place for
Chuck Negron as one of the great singers in rock
and pop.
While Chuck was with Three Dog Night they had
a phenomenal 18 consecutive top 20 hits, 21 top
40 hits, 8 top 10 hits and 4 number one hits -
not to mention 5 top 10 albums and 11 top 20 albums.
“We were a self-contained band who performed
all the music on our records,” Negron explained.
“We picked all the songs, arranged them
and were totally involved in production. We never
had an A&R person or any record company interference.
The band contractually had artistic control.”
Few bands were as popular in concert. They pioneered
stadium extravaganzas, prompting Rolling Stone
Magazine in its 1972 cover story to exclaim “More
Gold Than The Stones!” “Bigger Crowds
Than Credence!” “Fatter Purses Than
Elvis!” Some of their opening acts were
the likes of Rod Stewart, Aerosmith, ELO and co-headliner
billing with Led Zeppelin.
BEGINNING TO END
By 1975, two original members were unable to
continue and had to be replaced. In fact, the
sex, drugs, rock n roll existence, had taken its
toll. Soldiering on after their last million selling
single, ironically titled “The Show Must
Go On,” the band released their last top
forty hit “Til The World Ends” which
reached number 32 on the pop charts. Both recordings
were selected, arranged and sung by Chuck.
Chuck Negron had a great career within the band’s
career. He gave the group their first million
seller and fittingly their last. Three Dog Night
called it quits in 1976.
THE LONG ROAD BACK
Chuck’s best selling book “Three
Dog Nightmare” and his second book "Three
Dog Nightmare: The Continuing Chuck Negron Story"
chronicles his personal life and death struggle
with addiction and the miracle that saved his
life on September 17, 1991. Chuck has remained
clean and sober ever since.
“In 1992, I studied voice for the first
time in my life! I wanted to learn and be better
than I had ever been. I discovered a new and wonderful
passion for life and my music.” Chuck dedicated
himself to a strenuous training regimen that made
him stronger than he has ever been. “Live
performances can often be like an athletic event,
if you’re giving the audience everything
you have.” Negron explains with a laugh,
“I still train and utilize my vocal coach
whenever necessary.” Negron performs upwards
of 70 shows a year giving audiences the opportunity
to hear his impressive volume of hits plus an
exciting repertoire of new songs from his 4 solo
CD’s. “Am I Still In Your Heart”
was his first solo release in 1995. Then came
a beautiful Christmas CD “Joy To The World”
released in 1996. Chuck spent over two years writing
his book “Three Dog Nightmare” and
recorded the accompanying soundtrack CD entitled
“The Long Road Back.” His fourth solo
effort “Chuck Negron – Live In Concert”
recorded at Southern Methodist University in Dallas,
Texas was released in 2001 in which one of Chuck's
original songs "Took Me Under" was nominated
in 2002 for a PRISM Award for Best Song. In 2005,
Chuck released two DVDs "The Chuck Negron
Story: Biography of an Entertainer" which
won several awards including the 2006 PRISM "Video
to Production" Award and also includes classic
unseen footage of Three Dog Night live in concert.
His second DVD, "Chuck Negron: Live and in
Concert" Chuck sings his famous Three Dog
Night hits as well as several songs from his four
solo CDs.
GIVING IT BACK
“I would have nothing without the people
who cared for me and helped me find my way,”
Negron says. Chuck remains active with several
of the organizations whose aim is to keep drugs
out of the music industry. Chuck also spends time
helping the addicted. Cri-Help in North Hollywood,
California has been most important to Chuck’s
ongoing recovery. “I’ve been singing,
performing and recording for 50 years. I’ve
always been grateful for my voice and my life
as a musician. I look at it as a gift from God.
It has afforded me the opportunity to touch so
many people in such a beautiful way. Music has
brought me joy, inner peace and comfort that I
thrive on. I feel very blessed to be in the game
again.”
1- As reflected on "The Billboard, "Cashbox"
and "Record World" Charts.
2- Chuck Negron is no longer a part of Three Dog
Night’s current line up who continues to
tour today.
3- St. Martins Press – Released 1999
4- Literary Architects - Released 2008
5- The Annual PRISM Awards are part of the entertainment
industry's growing commitment to fighting substance
abuse and addiction through accurate depictions
of drug and alcohol use and addiction in film,
television, video and music.
For more information on Chuck Negron including
tour dates visit www.chucknegron.com
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