Saturday, January 20, 2007

Mamas & the Papas' Denny Doherty Dead at 66



This song, Creeque Alley, written by John Phillips, is about the genesis of The Mamas and the Papas, and a fitting tribute to the late Denny Doherty, I think.

(Denny's in the green shirt, second from the right) Michelle Phillips is now the sole surviving member of the band. Goodbye, Denny. You had an incredible voice, and you'll be missed.

4 comments:

Just Dave said...

One of my favorite groups from the '60s-'70s. Denny was always kind of anonymous since he seemed to stay out of the headlines. Michele must be getting a little nervous about now.

Mel said...

I read John Phillips Autobiography, and am amazed he lived as long as he did. They lived with gusto!

meva said...

I love the Mama & the Papas. Great harmonies.

Johnny Yen said...

I've loved the Mamas and Papas since I was a kid, and just in the last few years really loved that song.

I was always able to figure out everybody they were talking about-- John Sebastian, Barry McGuire, Roger McGuinn, etc. except for "Zal." When he died a few years ago, it occurred to me that Zal was Zal Yanovsky from the Lovin' Spoonful.

If you ever get a chance, watch the Time-Life "History of Rock and Roll" set. One of the Mamas and Papas-- it might have been Dougherty-- talks about how they took a sabbatical to the Virgin Islands, and when they returned, the whole Greenwich Village scene had moved to LA.