LOS ANGELES — Cory Wells, one of the founders of the seminal rock band Three Dog Night and host of the 2012 Parnelli Awards, died Oct. 21. He was 73.
Three Dog Night, one of the top bands from 1969-1974, had 21 Top 40 hits, and Wells sang nine of them, including “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” “Never Been to Spain” and “Try a Little Tenderness.”
“He’s one of the premier artists of rock, and his wonderful stories were insightful and entertaining,” recalled Parnelli Awards co-founder and PLSN/FOH publisher Terry Lowe, of Wells.
From the Parnelli stage, Wells voiced his gratitude for all the backstage support he and his band mates had received over the years. “How we sound and how we look on stage has always been important to the band, and I’m looking forward to spending an evening in room of so many who have made our live performances what they are,” he said, just prior to the show.
Wells had a direct connection with some of the Parnelli Awards’ previous honorees. Jim Bornhorst (Visionary, 2010) got his start driving the Three Dog truck, and Gerry Stickells (Lifetime Achievement, 2007) was the band’s tour manager in the early 1970s. Three Dog Night was also an early clients of then-fledgling sound companies Showco and Clair Brothers during that period, too.
Wells was originally offered the lead singer spot with Paul Revere and the Raiders, but turned it down. He met Sonny & Cher at the Whisky a Go Go and was asked to tour with them.
On that tour, he met future dog Danny Hutton, and the two still tour as the band today. They formed the band with Chuck Negron in 1968 (who dropped out in 1985). They were one of the first arena rock bands, and the first to go out with a new production company called Showco.
Wells, born Emil Lewandowski, was a native of the Buffalo, NY area, and when not performing, he was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and daughters Coryann and Dawn Marie Cussins (William), along with five grandchildren.
