What an amazing story Cory has. Born on February 5, 1941 in Buffalo, New York. His mother marries another guy not his father. Abusive stepfather, hardscrabble upbringing. Joins the Air Force right out of high school. So if he did 2 years he would of got out in 1961, if he did 4 years 1963. Returned to Buffalo. Started up a group  called the Vibratos. Was told that if he was serious about music that California was the place he ought to be, so they loaded up the truck and moved to LA. Played there and in San Diego. Met Danny Hutton (the second of Three Dog Night’s lead singers).

They formed 3DN in 1968 and the rest is history as they say. I wish I knew more. He’d purposely formed an interracial band while in the Air Force, and did it again with 3DN obviously. Another unique part of his story was he abstained from drugs and alcohol and led a modest lifestyle. Which for the late 60s and early 70s, that’s saying something. A lot. Probably a result of his upbringing. Watching a live clip of him from 1975 singing Shambala on Soundstage, I was taken by his incredible mechanics of singing. Not sure where he learned the ropes. Very personable and charismatic.

This live version of ‘Shambala‘ from 1975 really crystalizes so much about him. The joy he has in singing. You can see some of the “white soul” that comes out in a lot of his singing. The technical ability. His charisma. As he said in an interview what 3DN’s forte was was remaking existing songs, it was a sort of homage to the previous singer and the song. Regrettably the times being what they were, the songs didn’t always have the “deepest” lyrics, but they were fun! [Great interview here with Cory]

When he and Hutton restarted the band in the 80s they had a falling out with Chuck Negron (of course). I’d always caught the vibe that Negron was a little full of himself. I don’t know what the real story was. So those 2 were left with the “name” of the band. [“Wells died in his sleep on October 20, 2015, at Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk, New York at the age of 74. His family later confirmed he was fighting multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. His survivors include his wife, daughters, five grandchildren and siblings.”] – Wikipedia

Cory second from left