🚨 SAD NEWS: The voice behind “Joy to the World” is gone — but many never knew he once suffered an almost unimaginable fall. Chuck Negron — a founding member of Three Dog Night and the lead vocalist on legendary hits like “Joy to the World,” “One,” and “Old Fashioned Love Song” — has passed away at 83. What’s leaving fans shaken isn’t only the loss, but the story behind the spotlight: from rock’s late-’60s/’70s peak… to a dark chapter of addiction… and then a hard-won return few expected. He also battled COPD for decades and faced heart failure in his final months. So why did a voice that once dominated the charts seem to disappear for a time? What did he go through before he managed to stand back up and rewrite his own life story?

Chuck Negron, founding member of Los Angeles rock band Three Dog Night who sang lead vocals on classics like “Joy to the World” and “One,” has died. He was 83.

The musician died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones in his Studio City, Calif., home on Monday, his publicist announced in a news release. While a cause of death was not disclosed, Negron battled Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for three decades and also experienced heart failure in his final months.

Born June 8, 1942, Charles Negron II grew up in the Bronx playing basketball and singing in local doo wop groups. His natural athletic ability led him to be recruited to play basketball for Allan Hancock College and then California State University, Los Angeles, where he continued to explore his passion for music simultaneously.

It was in Los Angeles that Negron met and formed Three Dog Night with fellow founding members Danny Hutton and Cory Wells, the latter of whom died in 2015. The vocal trio became one of the most popular bands of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, and later expanded its roster to include guitarist Michael Allsup as well as late musicians Jimmy Greenspoon, Joe Schermie, and Floyd Sneed.

From 1968 until 1976, Three Dog Night recorded 10 albums that featured tracks penned by songwriters like Harry Nilsson (“One”), Laura Nyro (“Eli’s Comin’”), Randy Newman (“Mama Told Me Not to Come”), and Hoyt Axton (“Joy to the World”). The band would go on to have 21 singles enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with Negron singing lead vocals on hits like “Joy To The World,” “One,” “Old Fashioned Love Song,” and more.

The band disbanded in 1976, but reunited in 1981 and released their final record, the ska-heavy It’s A Jungle, in 1983. Negron ultimately left the band in 1985.

At the height of Three Dog Night’s fame, Negron developed a serious drug addiction that took over his life and later landed him on Skid Row. After undergoing multiple rehabilitation attempts, he got sober in 1991 and later detailed his experience in his 1999 autobiography, Three Dog Nightmare.

Music remained a constant presence in Negron’s life even after parting ways with Three Dog Night. He went on to have a successful solo career from 1995 until 2017, releasing seven albums and touring heavily until he had to stop due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 brother Rene (Jody) Negron; sister Denise (Janey) Negron; as well as his nine grandchildren, five nieces, and two nephews.