- Daryl Dragon
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Daryl Dragon
Dragon with wife Toni Tennille, 1976.Born Daryl Frank Dragon
August 27, 1942
Los Angeles, CaliforniaOther names Captain Occupation musician Daryl Frank Dragon (born August 27, 1942, Los Angeles, California) is a keyboardist, known as Captain in the successful 1970s pop musical duo Captain & Tennille, with his wife, Toni Tennille.[1]
Dragon is the son of conductor, composer, and arranger, Carmen Dragon - his godfather was actor comedian Danny Thomas. He is the elder brother of Dennis Dragon, a member of the 1960s’ pop combo The Dragons (which included Doug Dragon) and the 1980s’ surf band, the Surf Punks. Dragon contributed vibes and melodica in the song “Wind ’n’ Sea” by the band Farm, a group put together by brothers Dennis and Doug for the soundtrack to The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun, a surf film directed by George Greenough. He also did session work with Dennis for the Go for It soundtrack.
In 1962, he became a member of the band Charles Wright & the Wright Sounds, a group which included future Watts Band member John Raynford. Dragon was also a keyboard player with The Beach Boys in the early 1970s, and got his nickname of "Captain" from the group's lead singer Mike Love. He perpetuated this nickname and image by wearing a nautical captain's hat.
Dragon also made significant contributions with keyboarding and musical scoring on the Beach Boys' 23rd official album, their 1972 release Carl and the Passions - "So Tough". Dragon's orchestrations on the tracks "Make It Good" and "Cuddle Up" translated the melodic ideas that Dennis Wilson was looking for.[citation needed]
Neurological condition
In late 2009, Toni Tennille announced that Daryl had developed a mild form of Parkinson's disease which has manifested through a familial tremor. According to Tennille, the disease will be neither debilitating nor terminal for Daryl.[2] Rather, the disease has caused a noticeable tremor that is exacerbated by stress and anxiety; subsequently, the disease has limited most of Daryl's public appearances. As of November 2009, Daryl was under physicians' care to best determine treatment for his Parkinson's.[3]
In September 2010, Toni Tennille adjusted the announcement of Daryl's condition as "a neurological condition (not Parkinsons, but something similar) that causes him to have tremors".[4] Tennille indicates the condition continues to be debilitating to Daryl's abilities as a musician.
References
Grammy Award for Record of the Year (1970s) "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" performed by The 5th Dimension (Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson)
· produced by Bones Howe (1970)"Bridge over Troubled Water" performed by Simon & Garfunkel (Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon)
· produced by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon & Roy Halee (1971)"It's Too Late" performed by Carole King
· produced by Lou Adler (1972)"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" performed by Roberta Flack
· produced by Joel Dorn (1973)"Killing Me Softly with His Song" performed by Roberta Flack
· produced by Joel Dorn (1974)"I Honestly Love You" performed by Olivia Newton-John
· produced by John Farrar (1975)"Love Will Keep Us Together" performed by Captain & Tennille (Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille)
· produced by Daryl Dragon (1976)"This Masquerade" performed by George Benson
· produced by Tommy LiPuma (1977)"Hotel California" performed by The Eagles (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh),
· produced by Bill Szymczyk (1978)"Just the Way You Are" performed by Billy Joel
· produced by Phil Ramone (1979)Complete list · (1960s) · (1970s) · (1980s) · (1990s) · (2000s) · (2010s) Categories:- Living people
- 1942 births
- Musicians from Los Angeles, California
- American keyboardists
- The Beach Boys backing band members
- Grammy Award winners
- American keyboardist stubs
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