Mamas And The Papas singer dies Denny Doherty passes away aged 66 Mamas & The Papas singer
Denny Doherty died yesterday (January 19).
According to his sister
Frances Arnold he had suffered kidney problems following surgery last month and had been on dialysis. He was 66.
Doherty formed the
Los Angeles band with
John Phillips,
Michelle Phillips and
Cass "Mama Cass" Elliot and clocked up a series of hits in the 1960s and 70s with the likes of
California Dreamin' and
'Monday, Monday'.
Following the band's split
Doherty released two solo albums, and later achieved success in the 1990s playing the
Harbour Master character on the US
PBS television show
Theodore Tugboat.
He also recently co-wrote a play based on his experiences in the Mamas And The Paps called
'Dream A Little Dream' which was staged in
New York.
Born in
Halifax,
Nova Scotia in 1941,
Doherty was originally a member of folk group
The Halifax Three before he met husband and wife
John and
Michelle Phillips in
New York and formed the group
The New Journeymen with them.
Moving to
Los Angeles the group evolved with
Elliot's inclusion and were among the first to pioneer the acid-fuelled, sun-kissed West Coast sound.
The
Phillips's split up during the band's lifespan, and the group eventually fell apart due to personal disputes in 1971. Elliot died in 1974, while
John Phillips passed away in 2001 leading
Doherty and
Michelle Phillips to reunite for a one-off tribute show.
According to
AP,
Doherty was married twice - both wives died before him - and is survived by three children.
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