I punched Howard, and whispered, "Wow the choir is going to sing ONE or maybe JOY TO THE WORLD, Jeremiah had a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine, or TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS or MAMA, TOLD ME NOT TO COME." But I really couldn't see how those wonderful old tunes would fit in the church service.
He went on to point that Jesus was the One way to salvation, the one savior.
But I couldn't help but think of my own Three Dog Night experiences. I was bad and not listening to most of the rest of the service.
When I was a young teenager, 15-17, my group of friends and I loved Three Dog Night. We followed them from concert to concert, in stops including Memphis (many times), Shreveport, Jackson and Greenville. If we could't drive that far we could buy a ticket on the small Southwestern Airline, the one with the smiley faces, for about $50. Off we went.
My absolute favorite of the three was the beautiful, perfectly mustachioed Chuck Negon. He could hit those high notes like no other, and with his long hair and fringe, he was IT. Or so I thought.
I was having the time of my life until I spotted our other friends sitting in the audience. They must have wondered where we were, and when they saw us one in particular looked like she might throw up.
Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron and Corey Wells, who died last year. Photos by houstonpress.com |
The band grew apart as most bands do. Chuck's gigantic heroin habit, mostly to blame. After going to rehab countless times, he finally hit bottom. In his biography "Three Dog Nightmare" he recounts his addictions, failed relationships, trips to rehab and the journey back.
In 2013 Chuck released the third edition of his best-selling autobiography, Three Dog Nightmare, which chronicles his personal life and death struggle with addiction and the miracle that saved his life on September 17, 1991. Chuck has been clean and sober now for nearly 24 years. Chuck spent over two years writing his book Three Dog Nightmare and recorded the accompanying soundtrack CD entitled “The Long Road Back.” chucknegron.com from Three Dog Nightmare
“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 over 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.” Three Dog NightmareChuck Negron still tours as "Chuck Negron, formerly with Three Dog Night." The band tours under their original name.