Daryl Dragon 1942 – 2019

( : A&M Records)

Daryl Dragon, the man behind the keyboard stacks and producer of hit-making duo Captain & Tennille passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. Dragon, along with his former wife and partner Toni Tennille created a musical pop culture legacy that includes well-known hits “Love Will Keep Us Together,” “Muskrat Love” and “Do That to Me One More Time.”

Captain & Tennille made an unforgettable impact on me during my formative years, which has lasted well into my adulthood. I previously paid tribute to the Grammy Award-winning pop duo last summer in my piece titled The Pop Perfection of Captain & Tennille, which details my admiration for Daryl Dragon’s talented contributions as half of Captain & Tennille. You can read more by clicking on the above link or by clicking here.

R.I.P. Daryl Dragon and remember, we never really say goodbye.

The Pop Perfection of Captain & Tennille: How the Square Sonny & Cher Captured the Hearts of Millions with Their Irresistible Songs of Joy

 : © A&M Records and UMe

The first time I heard “Love Will Keep Us Together” on the radio was one of those unforgettable moments that caused me to promptly investigate who was capable of making such a marvelous sound. Toni and Daryl had proficiently captured pure pop perfection within a three-minute aural fantasy. I spent many youthful hours counting down to their weekly variety show, T.V. specials, and rare appearances on American Bandstand and The Midnight Special. I still recall sitting enthralled with my eyes glued to the television screen as Toni and Daryl whisked me away to Hawaii and New Orleans, as well as introducing my young ears to great artists like B.B. King and Ella Fitzgerald.

Captain & Tennille often released albums (or new singles) near the end of the school year, just as the weather was warming and bringing forth signs of new life by Mother Nature’s design, which made the ideal backdrop for C&T’s uniquely unforgettable sound. The Grammy-winning duo are best known for their biggest hits such as “Muskrat Love,” “The Way I Want to Touch You” and “Do That to Me One More Time,” but it’s their lesser known songs like “Ladybug,” “Love Is Spreading Over the World,” “Back to the Island” and “Come in From the Rain” that still harken to me every spring and summer. To this day, the Captain & Tennille’s albums are like comfort food to my soul or catching up with old friends, especially Dream, Come in From the Rain, and Song of Joy. [Read Full Feature]