Daryl Dragon, the “Captain” of “The Captain and Tennille,” died early Jan. 2 at a hospice in Prescott, Arizona.
The musician was 76 and died of renal failure at a hospice with his former wife and musical partner, Toni Tennille, by his side.
“He was a brilliant musician with many friends who loved him greatly,” Toni said in a statement. “I was at my most creative in my life, when I was with him.”
Publicist Harlan Boll said, “Even though they were divorced, they were closer than ever at the end!”
The musical duo had a series of hits in the 1970s, notably the #1 single “Love Will Keep Us Together.” Other hits included “Muskrat Love,” ”Shop Around” and “Do That to Me One More Time.”
Dragon and Tennille separated in 2013 and divorced the following year, and Daryl remained angry and bitter for a time, a source told The National ENQUIRER.
“He was very upset,” said a source. “He felt betrayed by Toni especially after she came out with her book!”
As RadarOnline reported in Feb. 2017, there was also a 911 call alleging elder abuse and claims he’d been drugged by an aide.
The official report noted the home was “clean and there was no indication that criminal activity was taking place.”
But Toni, who’d moved to Florida after the divorce, returned to Arizona to help care for her ex-husband and they grew close again!
A classically trained pianist, Dragon performed at times with the Beach Boys before meeting Tennille in the early 1970s.
