Dennis Doherty passed away earlier today after a short illness. He will be best remembered as a member of the Mamas and the Papas.

After starting his musical career as a member of a rock band in his native Halifax, Canada – Denny Doherty joined a folk group called the Colonials in 1959. The group changed their name to the Halifax Three and went to New York after getting a recording track. When the group broke up, Doherty teamed up with Cass Elliot in her band The Big Three. They later teamed up with John and Michelle Phillips who were performing with the Journeymen. The new quartet moved to LA and became The Mamas and the Papas and began recording hit after hit. Their time together was brief – the group disbanded in 1968, but their impact on popular music was huge.

Cass Elliott passed away in 1974 and John Phillips in 2001. The group was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Doherty continued to perform, recording solo albums and venturing into other projects. His voice was heard on the children’s TV series “Theodore Tugboat” where he voiced ALL the characters. In 2003 Doherty co-authored and performed in the off-Broadway production “Dream a Little Dream: The Mamas and the Papas Musical” a revue that traced the early history of the group.

For more about Denny Doherty and the incredible music he made, visit www.dennydoherty.com