I first heard Denny’s voice at Kes’ place. He had the Monday Monday album and a great stereo. I loved the voices, the harmonies, the melodies.
Of all the ’60’s music that I have hummed and sung throughout my life since then, The Mamas and the Papas’ were the songs that never grew stale or sounded old. For me, they are the only pop group that ever sounded like a choir. Listen to ‘Dedicated to the One I Love’ and you can hear a four person choir playing off each others’ voices.
My wife knew Denny, so I heard stories about him sleeping under her family’s Christmas tree and Cass and John and Mackenzie coming by to pick him up. She’s calling her relatives back in Nova Scotia now as I write this. The stories made me feel just one degree apart from him… and their magical music.
Thank you, Denny, for the music.