3/5/2011 Three Dog Night, The Good Life Festival at Encanterra, Queen Creek, AZ

 10 years ago today...

March 5, 2011 - Queen Creek, AZ

Three Dog Night recalled their rock hits of the early 70s at the Good Life Festival at Encanterra.

The Good Life Festival was an annual outdoor concert event catering to baby boomers who are the target audience of Encanterra, a 55+ active adult residential community in the very far southeast Valley.  The Guess Who (the knockoff karaoke act headed by the former drummer/discussed in the Jan. 24 entry of TSTT) was also on the bill, but we arrived late and missed them.

Three Dog Night, with front men vocalists Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron, were one of the major rock acts of their era, topping the charts with tunes pitched to them by outside songwriters. They had three songs make it to #1 in the U.S., each featuring a different dog as lead singer: "Joy To The World" (Negron), "Mama Told Me Not To Come" (Wells) and "Black & White" (Hutton).

The group broke up in the mid 70s, only to reform a few years later.  Negron was eventually fired from the group in 1985 for his drug use, and now tours as a solo act on the "Hippiefest" and "Happy Together" packaged nostalgia tours.

The other two dogs soldiered on and led the group on this night.  Original guitarist Michael Allsup and keyboard player Jimmy Greenspoon from the original hit records were also still in the band.

I really liked these guys and this oldies show.  It was a sing-along affair, and we could "name that tune" in the first few notes for many of their hits.  "Liar,"  "Road to Shambala" and "Old Fashioned Love Song" were among my concert favorites.

Therese and I somehow scored post-show meet-and-greet passes with the band.  We attended the show with my long-time friends Art and Mike who contributed to my being over-served on the evening, as evidenced in the photos.  

So we helped them a drinkin' wine.  And they always had some mighty fine wine...

Wells and Greenspoon died four years later in 2015.  Hutton continues to tour under the Three Dog Night name and Negron remains a solo artist.

Original lead guitarist Michael Allsup and lead vocalist Cory Wells left of Therese.

Lead vocalist Danny Hutton and original keyboard player Jimmy Greenspoon right of Rod.