Musician Daryl Dragon Passes Away at 76
The world lost a very talented person on Wednesday when Daryl Dragon passed away in Prescott, Arizona. Also known by his nickname Captain, he was an American musician and composer. He’s best known for his musical duo with his wife Toni Tennille, called Captain & Tennille. He’s also widely recognized for working alongside some of the greats like Fats Domino, BB King, and The Beach Boys.
It was clear from the beginning that Dragon had talent. He was born into a musical family to Eloise and Carmen Dragon. His father was a well-renowned composer, orchestrator, and arranger for film and television. His younger brother was a musician himself in the bands The Dragon and the Surf Punks.
Daryl took an affinity to music early in his formative years. He was classically trained for piano but gravitated toward genres like blues.
He played keyboard for the band The Beach Boys. The band’s lead singer, Mike Love, was so enamored with his playing that he was nicknamed “Captain Keyboard” and the name stuck. Band member Brian Wilson has led several tributes in Daryl’s name.
After playing with The Beach Boys, he formed a duo with his wife Toni Tennille called Captain & Tennille. The duo saw great success in the 1970s with their single Love Will Keep Us Together. The single is highly lauded and topped the US Billboard Charts when it was released in 1975.
Daryl was described by his friends and peers to be a talented person with a great personality. His Beach Boys bandmates would often comment that he was a man of few words and would spend his time perfecting his craft.
His talents were undeniable. He was a multi-instrumentalist that could play the keyboard, the guitar, the vibes, the melodica, and the bass. In addition to mastering all these different instruments and playing among legends, he would also find time to write his own songs. His death is considered a major tragedy by all his fans, friends, and peers.