What a shame. Seemed like a good man. Definitely a great talent
My son loved Theodore The Tugboat when he was a toddler and would connect his Theodore toys with Thomas The Tank Engine toys into a metropolis of fun
Posted on 01/19/2007 3:28:58 PM PST by drew
Mamas & Papas member Doherty dies at 66
Denny Doherty, one-quarter of the 1960s folk-rock group the Mamas and the Papas, known for their soaring harmony on hits like "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday," died Friday at 66.
His sister Frances Arnold said the singer-songwriter died at his home in Mississauga, a city just west of Toronto, after a short illness. He had suffered kidney problems following surgery last month and had been put on dialysis, Arnold said.
The group burst on the national scene in 1966 with the top 10 smash "California Dreamin'." The Mamas and the Papas broke new ground by having women and men in one group at a time when most singing groups were unisex. John Phillips, the group's chief songwriter; his wife, Michelle; and another female vocalist, Cass Elliot, teamed with Doherty.
"Monday, Monday" hit No. 1 on the charts and won the band a Grammy for best contemporary group performance. Among the group's other songs were "I Saw Her Again Last Night," "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Dancing Bear," and versions of "I Call Your Name" and "Dedicated to the One I Love."
"What made the group special was their haunting and sumptuous harmony singing," according to "The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll."
"Everybody used to think that John Phillips, who wrote the songs, was also the main voice of the group, but it wasn't — it was the angelic voice of Denny Doherty," said Larry Leblanc, Canadian editor of Billboard Magazine. "He was often overlooked but it was really his voice that carried the group."
In 1998, the Mamas and the Papas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The group's catchy sound was a blend of '60s upbeat pop and the folk music that had surged in popularity early in the decade. The song "Creeque Alley" told the story of their formation amid the musical ferment of the folk scene; among the other stars-to-be mentioned in its lyrics were members of the Lovin' Spoonful and the Byrds.
Folk superstars Peter, Paul and Mary paid their own tribute to the Mamas and the Papas with their humorous 1967 hit "I Dig Rock and Roll Music."
But the group's heyday was brief and it disbanded in 1968 following John and Michelle Phillips' divorce. The members re-formed in 1971 for the album "People Like Us," but all hope for a reunion ended in 1974 when the 30-year-old Elliot suffered a fatal heart attack in London.
Phillips briefly re-formed the group in 1982 with Doherty, Phillips' actress daughter, Mackenzie, and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. The foursome toured playing oldies and new Phillips originals.
In 2003, Doherty was co-author and performer in an off-Broadway show called "Dream a Little Dream: The Mamas and the Papas Musical." It traced the band's early years, its dizzying fame and breakup amid drugs and alcohol and an affair between Doherty and Michelle Phillips.
"There's a part of this thing that if I'm not careful, I'd be just a blob on the stage crying my guts out," Doherty told The Associated Press at the time. "Everybody knows about death and dying and sadness, so it's an exercise in staying in the moment and not getting maudlin about your friends dying."
John Phillips died in 2001 at 65.
The Halifax-born Doherty started his music career in Montreal in 1960 as the co-founder of the Colonials, which later became the Halifax Three.
Doherty made a solo album in 1974 and achieved a bit of immortality by both playing the Harbormaster and voicing all the characters for the children's TV series "Theodore Tugboat."
Doherty, who was married twice, is survived by three children, John, Emberly and Jessica; three sisters; and a brother. Both of his wives predeceased him.
Dancing Bear? Don't remember that one.
Sad. I saw a documentary about the Mamas and Papas and Denny admitted that he had been in love with Cass Elliot but she didn't return his romantic feelings, seeing him only as a best friend and brother and musical collaborator.
But he always spoke kindly of her and he and Cass's daughter were very hurt and offended by all the false stories and rumors that she died as a result of choking on a ham sandwich. This was not true of course. Cass Elliot died of a massive heart attack probably brought on by years of drug abuse and obesity.
Ironically she had cleaned up in the last year of her life and seemed to have found some real happiness and musical success as a solo artist.
The only surviving member of the group is Michelle Phillips. I’m feeling kind of old right now.
California Dreaming is a classic.
I don't remember "dancing bear" either - but here's a link to the lyrics.
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/the_mamas_and_the_papas/dancing_bear.html
I thought Cass had a crush on him and he had an affair with Michelle?
Thanks for the link. Now I know I really did never hear of it. LOL
I was thinking of the "Dancing Queen" by Abba.
What do I know.
RIP Denny
sp
"The only surviving member of the group is Michelle Phillips. I’m feeling kind of old right now."
She was very Beautiful. Turns out that she cheated on husband(I think it was with this guy that just died) and that is why the band broke up. Her daughter is the "Phillips" in the band Wilson and Phillips.
California Dreaming Music Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFazThBbEao
I used to love them ... still do.
No salt on her tail ...
"I thought Cass had a crush on him and he had an affair with Michelle?"
That is what I read too. I would like to add that Michelle was from California, and the group had moved to the NE US. Michelle was depressed about the not so sunny weather there. The song California Dreaming was written for her.
That's what kept coming to my mind, too.
Dancing Bear somehow managed to go unheard by me all those years. It must have been memorable...
I think you are right and I stand corrected.
I think I got it wrong because after her death, Denny came to know how Cass felt about him and regretted that he didn't see it then and what happened with Michelle. I got the feeling he was in love with Cass but didn't realize it until it was too late.
They were all sort of dysfunctional but made some really great music together.
A relatively decent group for a rock band.
I remember the teens of the time that I knew didn't think too much of them, because they weren't far enough out or mean enough.
"Cass Elliot died of a massive heart attack..."
Cass was a big gal but she sure had a sweet voice. "Dream a Little Dream" is still one of my all-time favorite songs. Could also have something to do with being one of the top songs in the country at the time I'd just returned from RVN and my wife and I were getting married.
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