Floyd Sneed, the Canadian drummer who was best known for his work with the rock band Three Dog Night, died on January 27, 2023, at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by the band on their official Facebook page, where they paid tribute to his musical legacy and his wonderful personality. However, the exact cause of death was not revealed by the band or his family. Here is what we know about Floyd Sneed’s life, career, and death.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Floyd Chester Sneed was born on November 22, 1942, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a musical family, as his parents were both musicians at their church. He became interested in drums at an early age, and his first drum kit was a gift from his older sister Maxine, who was married to the musician-actor Tommy Chong at the time.
He started playing in local bands with his pianist older brother Bernie Sneed, and later joined Chong’s band, Little Daddy and the Bachelors, in Vancouver. In 1966, he formed his own band called Heat Wave and moved to Los Angeles, California.
Joining Three Dog Night and Achieving Fame
In 1968, he met a trio of vocalists (Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells), who had a contract with Dunhill Records and were looking for backing musicians. Sneed joined their new band, Three Dog Night, which became a commercial success in the late 1960s and early to mid-1970s.
Three Dog Night had 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, including three number one singles: “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)”, “Joy to the World”, and “Black and White”. Sneed sang backup on only one song with the band; he did the deep vocal on “Joy to the World”, singing the lyric “I wanna tell you”.
Sneed was known for his powerful and distinctive drumming style, which contributed to the band’s unique sound. He also broke barriers culturally, as he was one of the few black musicians in a predominantly white rock scene.
After Three Dog Night and Other Projects
After Three Dog Night broke up in 1977, Sneed continued to work with other groups, including an extended tour with The Ohio Players. He and other backing musicians from Three Dog Night worked together in a short-lived group named SS Fools.
He reappeared briefly with the reincarnated Three Dog Night in the mid-1980s. In 1990, he had a minor role playing a drummer in a Chong film, Far Out Man. In 2002, he toured and recorded with the band K.A.T.T., and also formed his own band called Same Dog New Tricks.
Sneed also pursued his passion for art, as he was a talented painter whose works were shown in galleries in both Canada and America. He regularly appeared in concert on percussion and drums with former Three Dog Night lead singer Chuck Negron through the 1990s and 2000s.
Death and Legacy
Sneed died on January 27, 2023, at the age of 80. As of now, a cause of death was not specified, but he is believed to have died of natural causes. He was survived by his wife Linda Sneed and his children Floyd Jr., Jason, Jessica, and Joshua.
His former bandmates and friends expressed their sadness and condolences on social media, remembering him as a wonderful human being, a complete original, and a sweetheart of a man. They also praised him for his musical achievements and his inspiration to many artists.
Sneed was descended from the original black settlers to Alberta’s Amber Valley – their migration to Canada under Clifford Sifton’s campaign to entice U.S. farmers to settle in the prairies. He was also an uncle of actors Rae Dawn Chong , Robbi Chong , and Marcus Chong .
Floyd Sneed was one of the most influential drummers of his generation, who left a lasting mark on the history of rock music. He will be greatly missed by his fans, family, and friends.
