Cory Wells, the co-founder and vocalist of Three Dog Night, died Tuesday, the band reported on its Facebook page. He was 74.
“It is with deep sadness and disbelief that I must report the passing of Cory Wells, my beloved band mate for over 45 years,” bandmate Danny Hutton wrote in the statement. “Cory was an incredible singer — a great performer, he could sing anything.”
Wells “died unexpectedly” in Dunkirk, New York. He had been touring with the band as recently as last month when he developed “severe back pain.” No cause of death was reported.
Hutton, Wells and Chuck Negron first formed the band in 1967 and went on to record such hits as “Joy to the World,” ”Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” and “Black and White.”
The band’s keyboardist, Jimmy Greenspoon, died of cancer at 67 in March 2015.