Three Dog Night is an American rock band formed in 1967, founded by vocalists Chuck Negron, Cory Wells, and Danny Hutton. This lineup was soon augmented by Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards), Joe Schermie (bass), Michael Allsup (guitar), and Floyd Sneed (drums). The band had 21 Billboard Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975, with three hitting number one.[4] Three Dog Night recorded many songs written by outside songwriters, and they helped to introduce mainstream audiences to writers such as Randy Newman ("Mama Told Me Not to Come"), Paul Williams ("An Old Fashioned Love Song"), Laura Nyro ("Eli's Comin'") and Hoyt Axton ("Joy to the World", "Never Been to Spain").[5]

Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night, 1972. Back L–R: Joe Schermie, Floyd Sneed, Michael Allsup and Jimmy Greenspoon. Front L–R: Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron
Three Dog Night, 1972. Back L–R: Joe Schermie, Floyd Sneed, Michael Allsup and Jimmy Greenspoon. Front L–R: Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron
Background information
Also known asRedwood (1967–1968)
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1967–1976, 1981–present
Labels
MembersDanny Hutton
Paul Kingery
Pat Bautz
David Morgan
Howard Laravea
Timothy Hutton
Past membersCory Wells
Chuck Negron
Michael Allsup
Jimmy Greenspoon
Floyd Sneed
Joe Schermie
Ron Morgan
Jack Ryland
Skip Konte
Mickey McMeel
James "Smitty" Smith
Dennis Belfield
Al Ciner
Jay Gruska
Ron Stockert
Mike Seifrit
Richard Grossman
Mike Keeley
Scott Manzo
Steve Ezzo
Gary Moon
T. J. Parker
Richard Campbell
Mike Cuneo

Name origin

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The commentary included in the CD set Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975 states that vocalist Danny Hutton's girlfriend, actress June Fairchild (best known as the "Ajax Lady" from the Cheech and Chong movie Up In Smoke) suggested the name after reading a magazine article about Aboriginal Australians, in which it was explained that on cold nights they would customarily sleep while embracing a dingo, a native species of wild dog. On colder nights they would sleep with two dogs and, if the night were freezing, it was a "three dog night".[6]

Musician Van Dyke Parks, an arranger at Warner Bros. Records, disputed the above story and said he coined the name. On 10 September 2018, he wrote on Twitter, "I wuz [sic] nuts about Hutton's girlfriend. Quite a dancer. Yet, she didn't read Mankind magazine, nor have an inkling of anthtopology [sic] and the cold aboriginal nights that inspired my suggestion."[7]

History

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Background

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The three vocalists, Hutton (who got his start with Hanna-Barbera Records in 1964), Negron, and Wells (who landed a recording contract with Dunhill Records) first came together in 1967. They initially went by the name Redwood and made some recordings with Brian Wilson while the Beach Boys were working on the album Wild Honey.

Redwood was briefly poised to be one of the first artists signed to the Beach Boys' Brother Records. According to Beach Boy Mike Love, "[Brian] had them in the studio for several days, and he was really funny. They didn't meet up to his expectations. ... They'd go in and they wouldn't sing well enough for him. ... but they went off and made billions."[8] Wilson attempted to produce an album for Redwood, but after the recording of three songs, including "Time to Get Alone" and "Darlin'", this motion was halted by his bandmates, who wanted Brian to focus on the Beach Boys' contractual obligations.[9] According to Negron, due to the commercial failure of Smiley Smile and Wilson's waning commitment to his band, "the other Beach Boys wanted Brian's immense songwriting and producing talents used strictly to enhance their own careers".[10] Negron later noted that he would have acted similarly had he been in the same position as the Beach Boys.[10]

Shortly after abandoning the Redwood moniker in 1968, the vocalists hired a group of backing musicians – Ron Morgan on guitar, Floyd Sneed on drums, Joe Schermie from the Cory Wells Blues Band on bass, and Jimmy Greenspoon on keyboards – and soon took the name Three Dog Night. Morgan left the band before its first album was recorded and subsequently joined the Electric Prunes. Michael Allsup was quickly recruited to replace Morgan on guitar.[11]

1968–1972

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Negron, Wells and Hutton in 1969

Three Dog Night made its official debut in 1968 at the Whisky a Go Go, at a 5 p.m. press party hosted by Dunhill Records. They were still in the process of making their first album Three Dog Night when they heard the favorable reactions from the hypercritical audience.[12]

The album Three Dog Night was a success with its hit songs "Nobody", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "One" and helped the band gain recognition and become one of the top-drawing concert acts of their time.[12]

Between 1969 and 1972 they had 13 songs in a row reach the Top 10 on the Canadian RPM charts.

In December 1972, the band hosted and performed on the inaugural edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Eve special New Year's Rockin' Eve, Three Dog Night's New Year's Rockin' Eve, on NBC.[13][14][15][16]

1973–1979

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In 1973, Three Dog Night filed a $6 million lawsuit against their former booking agent, American Talent International (ATI), for continuing to advertise in the media that the band was still with their agency when in fact they signed with William Morris Agency in October 1972. Other damages were sought due to ATI taking deposits for booking Three Dog Night, whom they no longer represented.[17]

Joe Schermie left in early 1973 due to "problems arising that were apparently unresolvable".[18] He was replaced by Jack Ryland shortly thereafter, and the band then became an eight-piece with the inclusion of former Blues Image member Skip Konte as a second keyboardist in late 1973. In late 1974, Allsup and Sneed left to form a new band, SS Fools, with Schermie and Bobby Kimball (later of Toto). New guitarist James "Smitty" Smith and drummer Mickey McMeel were recruited, but by 1975, Smith had been replaced by Al Ciner from Rufus and The American Breed, and Ryland by Rufus bassist Dennis Belfield. Mickey McMeel would go on to co-star as "Turkey", the drummer of Kaptain Kool and the Kongs, in the children's television series The Krofft Supershow.

For the albums Cyan, Hard Labor, and Coming Down Your Way, Hutton was absent from many of the recording sessions due to burgeoning cocaine and alcohol abuse (often in conjunction with such friends as Harry Nilsson and Brian Wilson), eventually precipitating his dismissal from the band at the instigation of Wells in late 1975. He was replaced by Jay Gruska.[19]

Hours before the first concert of their 1975 tour, Negron was arrested for the possession of narcotics but was soon released on $10,000 bond.[20]

Coming Down Your Way, released in May 1975, failed to sell well in the United States, likely due to poor promotion on account of the band's recently switched label, ABC, and the growing popularity of disco music. Disappointed by this, the band decided "Til The World Ends" would be the only single released from the album, which ended up being the group's last Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit.

Jay Gruska toured with the band to promote their last album, American Pastime, released in March 1976. Still, the album did not sell well for the same reasons as before. However, the only single released off the album, "Everybody's a Masterpiece" became an adult contemporary hit.[21][22] Another former Rufus band member, Ron Stockert, was recruited as second keyboardist after Konte left in the first half of 1976. The group played their final show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on July 26, 1976.[11]

In 1979, NBC reported that the band's accountant "was shot in the arm and paralyzed, in what the police believe was a mob dispute over Three Dog Night." Joe Ulloa, a "reputed mob enforcer from New York", was investigated as being involved.[23]

1981–1990s

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In 1981, Three Dog Night reunited, later releasing the ska-inspired It's a Jungle in 1983 on the small Passport Records label, which garnered some airplay on the new wave circuit. The EP failed to sell after Passport went bankrupt. The reunion featured all of the original members, except Joe Schermie, who was succeeded by future Rick Springfield bassist Mike Seifrit until 1982, and then by Richard Grossman, who was featured on It's a Jungle and stayed until 1984. Two guitarists, Paul Kingery and Steve Ezzo, occasionally played with the band, filling in for Allsup on dates he was not able to make between 1982 and 1984. Ezzo replaced Allsup when he departed in late 1984 to take care of some personal and family matters. Sneed was let go from the band at the same time. Also in late 1984, keyboardist David Bluefield filled in for Greenspoon, who was ill. But Bluefield was replaced in 1985 by Rick Seratte (formerly of Poco and later with Whitesnake and others) and the band hit the road with a revised lineup that included Seratte, Steve Ezzo, bassist Scott Manzo and drummer Mike Keeley.[11] The band toured all through 1985, but Seratte left to pursue other offers and Greenspoon rejoined the band with Negron in late 1985 and were both back touring with the group.

By December 1985, after a relapse into his drug habit, Negron was let go, and the group continued with Wells and Hutton fronting the band and Paul Kingery was brought back on guitar to cover Chuck's vocal harmonies. In 1986, their song "In My Heart" was featured in Robotech: The Movie.

More changes in personnel occurred when guitarist T. J. Parker and vocalist and bassist Gary Moon replaced Kingery and Manzo in 1988, and were replaced themselves by Mike Cuneo and Richard Campbell during 1989.

Allsup returned to the group to replace Cuneo in the spring of 1991. Negron entered drug rehab, but did not return to the band.

Pat Bautz succeeded Keeley as drummer in 1993.

In 1993, Three Dog Night performed for The Family Channel show Spotlight on Country, filmed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Kingery returned to the band as their bass player in 1996 following Campbell's departure.

2000–2012

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Original bassist Joe Schermie died on March 26, 2002. In May 2002 the band released Three Dog Night with The London Symphony Orchestra. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and in London at Abbey Road Studios and includes two new songs: "Overground" and "Sault Ste. Marie". They also released a DVD of a filmed symphony performance from 2000 titled Three Dog Night Live With the Tennessee Symphony Orchestra in May 2002. In the summer of 2004, 80s bassist Scott Manzo returned briefly to fill in for Paul Kingery.

In October 2004, Three Dog Night released The 35th Anniversary Hits Collection Featuring The London Symphony Orchestra. The album includes live versions of "Eli's Coming", "Brickyard Blues", "Try a Little Tenderness", and "Family of Man". In August 2008, they released Three Dog Night Greatest Hits Live, a compilation of previously unissued live recordings from concerts in Frankfurt, Germany and Edmonton, London in 1972 and 1973.[24] On October 24, 2009, they released three new songs: "Heart of Blues", "Prayer of the Children", and "Two Lights In The Nighttime". They issued two new songs on their 35th Anniversary Hits Collection Featuring The London Symphony Orchestra.

2012–present

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In the summer of 2012, guitarist Allsup was hospitalized for an intestinal disorder, forcing Kingery to move back to guitar, while Danny's son Timothy Hutton played bass. This happened again during the summer of 2015 when Allsup was forced to miss some shows.[citation needed] On March 11, 2015, Jimmy Greenspoon died from cancer, aged 67. His place at the keyboards was taken by Eddie Reasoner who had substituted for him when he took ill in mid-2014.[25]

On October 21, 2015, Cory Wells died at his home in Dunkirk, New York, at age 74.[5] In November 2015, the band announced that singer David Morgan would be joining them on the road. He was a former member of The Association. In April 2017, Howard Laravea replaced Eddie Reasoner on keyboards. He was formerly with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

When Three Dog Night returned to touring in August 2021, it was without Michael Allsup, who was replaced with Tim Hutton on bass. Paul Kingery switched back to guitar. Danny Hutton has stated during concert appearances that Three Dog Night has been recording a new album, before performing their new song "Prayer of the Children".

Personnel

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Members

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Current members

  • Danny Hutton – vocals (1967–1975, 1981–present)
  • Paul Kingery – vocals, guitar, bass (1982–1983 as substitute; 1985–1988, 1996–present)
  • Pat Bautz – drums, vocals (1993–present)
  • David Morgan – vocals (2015–present)
  • Howard Laravea – keyboards (2017–present)
  • Timothy Hutton – bass, vocals (2021–present)

Former members

  • Cory Wells – vocals, rhythm guitar (1967–1976, 1981–2015; his death)
  • Chuck Negron – vocals (1967–1976, 1981–1985)
  • Michael Allsup – guitar (1967–1974, 1981–1984, 1991–2021)
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards (1968–1976, 1981–2015; his death)
  • Floyd Sneed – drums (1968–1974, 1981–1984; died 2023)
  • Joe Schermie – bass (1968–1973; died 2002)
  • Jack Ryland – bass (1973–1975; died 1996)
  • Skip Konte – keyboards (1973–1976)
  • Mickey McMeel – drums (1974–1976)
  • John Mrowiec-drums (1975–1977)
  • James "Smitty" Smith – guitar (1974–1975)
  • Dennis Belfield – bass (1975–1976)
  • Al Ciner – guitar (1975–1976)
  • Jay Gruska – vocals (1976)
  • Ron Stockert – keyboards (1976)
  • Mike Seifrit – bass (1981–1982)
  • Richard Grossman – bass (1982–1984)
  • David Bluefield (touring) – keyboards (1984)
  • Rick Seratte – keyboards (1985)
  • Mike Keeley – drums (1985–1993)
  • Scott Manzo – bass (1985–1988, 2004)
  • Steve Ezzo – guitar (fill-in for Allsup 1983–1984, 1985)
  • Gary Moon – bass, vocals (1988–1989)
  • T.J. Parker – guitar (1988–1989)
  • Richard Campbell – bass, vocals (1989–1996)
  • Eddie Reasoner – keyboards (2015–2017; substitute – 2014–2015)
  • Mike Cuneo – guitar (1989–1991)

Timeline

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Lead vocal credits

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Lineups

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1967–1968
(Redwood)
1968–1973
(Three Dog Night)
1973 1973–1974
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Floyd Sneed – drums
  • Jack Ryland – bass
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Floyd Sneed – drums
  • Jack Ryland – bass
  • Skip Konte – keyboards
1974–1975 1975 1976 1976
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Jack Ryland – bass
  • Skip Konte – keyboards
  • Mickey McMeel – drums
  • James "Smitty" Smith – guitar
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Skip Konte – keyboards
  • Mickey McMeel – drums
  • Dennis Belfield – bass
  • Al Ciner – guitar
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Skip Konte – keyboards
  • Mickey McMeel – drums
  • Dennis Belfield – bass
  • Al Ciner – guitar
  • Jay Gruska – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Mickey McMeel – drums
  • Dennis Belfield – bass
  • Al Ciner – guitar
  • Jay Gruska – vocals
  • Ron Stockert – keyboards
1976–1981 1981–1982 1982–1984 1985

Disbanded

  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Mike Seifrit – bass
  • Floyd Sneed – drums
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Floyd Sneed – drums
  • Richard Grossman – bass
  • Paul Kingery – guitar, vocals (fill in for Allsup 1982–1983)
  • Steve Ezzo – guitar (fill in for Allsup 1983–1984)
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Rick Seratte – keyboards
  • Mike Keeley – drums
  • Steve Ezzo – guitar
  • Scott Manzo – bass
1985 1985–1988 1988–1989 1989–1991
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Chuck Negron – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Mike Keeley – drums
  • Steve Ezzo – guitar
  • Scott Manzo – bass
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Mike Keeley – drums
  • Paul Kingery – guitar, vocals
  • Scott Manzo – bass
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Mike Keeley – drums
  • Gary Moon – bass, vocals
  • T.J. Parker – guitar
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Mike Keeley – drums
  • Richard Campbell – bass
  • Mike Cuneo – guitar
1991–1993 1993–1996 1996–2015 2015
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Mike Keeley – drums
  • Richard Campbell – bass
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Richard Campbell – bass
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Pat Bautz – drums
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Pat Bautz – drums
  • Paul Kingery – bass, vocals
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • Cory Wells – vocals
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Pat Bautz – drums
  • Paul Kingery – bass, vocals
  • Eddie Reasoner – keyboards
2015–2017 2017–2021 2021–present
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • David Morgan – vocals
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Pat Bautz – drums
  • Paul Kingery – bass, vocals
  • Eddie Reasoner – keyboards
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • David Morgan – vocals
  • Michael Allsup – guitar
  • Pat Bautz – drums
  • Paul Kingery – bass, vocals
  • Howard Laravea – keyboards
  • Danny Hutton – vocals
  • David Morgan – vocals
  • Paul Kingery – guitar, vocals
  • Pat Bautz – drums
  • Timothy Hutton – bass, vocals
  • Howard Laravea – keyboards

Discography

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Awards and recognition

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References

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  1. ^ George-Warren, Holly; Romanowski, Patricia, eds. (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (3rd ed.). Fireside Books. p. 990. ISBN 0-7432-9201-4.
  2. ^ a b Patton, Ali (October 15, 2022). "The Top 10 Need-to-Know Three Dog Night Songs (That Aren't "One" or "Joy To The World")". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 16, 2022. ... what was leftover became a bluesy, rootsy, blue-eyed boogie, pseudo-soul, funk-infused amalgamation of not hard, not soft, but more of a medium rock. The band to epitomize all of that: Three Dog Night.
  3. ^ Negron, Chuck (2008). Three Dog Nightmare: The Continuing Chuck Negron Story. Literary Architects. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-9336-6913-7.
  4. ^ "Three Dog Night". Billboard.
  5. ^ a b Weber, Bruce (2015-10-22). "Cory Wells, Singer With Three Dog Night, Dies at 74". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  6. ^ Chawkins, Steve (February 18, 2015). "June Fairchild dies at 68; former actress lived on skid row". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Van Dyke Parks [@thevandykeparks] (September 10, 2018). "I wuz [sic] nuts about Hutton's girlfriend. Quite a dancer. Yet, she didn't read Mankind magazine, nor have an inkling of anthtopology [sic] and the cold aboriginal nights that inspired my suggestion. Wiki[pedia] duz [sic] need an edit" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Tobler, John (1978). The Beach Boys. Chartwell Books. p. 45. ISBN 0890091749.
  9. ^ Carlin, Peter Ames (2006). Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. Rodale. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-59486-320-2.
  10. ^ a b Priore, Domenic (2007). Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece. pp. 127–129.
  11. ^ a b c Greenspoon, Jimmy; Bego, Mark (1991). One Is the Loneliest Number: On the Road and Behind the Scenes With the Legendary Rock Band Three Dog Night. ISBN 9780886876470.
  12. ^ a b Orloff, Kathy. "Three Dog Night—A Howling Success Story". Los Angeles Times, May 23, 1971, pp. 1–q16.
  13. ^ Moore, Frazier (December 26, 2001). "Next week to be 25th New Year's Eve without Guy Lombardo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  14. ^ Memmott, Carol (December 27, 2011). "Dick Clark: Rockin' it on New Year's since 1972". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  15. ^ "Foster Opens London 'Digs,' Ogles FM Buys & Bookers". Billboard. November 18, 1972. pp. 3, 10. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  16. ^ "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve: 5 Memorable Moments From The Show's History (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter (The Live Feed). April 18, 2012. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  17. ^ "ATI Sued by 3 Dog Night". Billboard. February 3, 1973. Retrieved August 26, 2015 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Michael Allsup Website". Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  19. ^ "Chuck Negron Michael Artsis Show Interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  20. ^ Wirephoto, A. P. "Arrested just before Concert Tour". Chicago Tribune, Jul 4, 1975, p. 5.
  21. ^ "Three Dog Night Chart History – Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  22. ^ "Three Dog Night Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  23. ^ Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Television News Archive, 1979-05-07, https://catalog.library.vanderbilt.edu/discovery/fulldisplay/alma991043360086103276/01VAN_INST:vanui
  24. ^ "Three Dog Night – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  25. ^ Vanmetre, Elizabeth (March 11, 2015). "Jimmy Greenspoon of Three Dog Night has died from cancer at age 67". Daily News. Retrieved March 12, 2015.

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