Maritimer Denny Doherty has done his share of California dreamin’. In fact, the dream turned into reality with the hugely successful group The Mamas and the Papas, in the 1960s. Born in Halifax, N.S., Doherty formed his first folk trio in 1959. Named The Colonials, the trio played across Canada and after changing the name to The Halifax Three, signed a recording contract in New York. After the trio broke up Doherty joined Cass Elliot as a member of her group, The Big Three. Inspired by the Beatles, The Big Three recruited Zal Yanovsky and John Sebastian and changed its name to The Mugwumps. Although the folky, rocking Mugwumps broke new ground, a record release was not forthcoming and the band split up. Sebastian and Yanosky formed The Lovin’ Spoonful and Cass and Doherty joined up with fellow folkies John and Michelle Phillips to become The Mamas and the Papas.
Success shone brightly on the group after a move to Los Angeles in 1965. With top-selling albums and singles such as “California Dreamin’,’ “Monday Monday,’ and “I Saw Her Again,’ The Mamas and the Papas were one of the biggest bands in rock ‘n’ roll from 1965 to ’67. The group had nine top-40 hits during this time (six reached the top five) and albums included debut If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, which went to No.1, The Mamas %26 the Papas which reached No.4, Deliver, which hit No. 2 and the compiled-hit LP Farewell to the First Golden Era which reached No.5.
After the demise of the group in 1969, Doherty recorded two solo albums, then returned to New York City where he played the lead on Broadway in Phillip’s Man on the Moon. In 1978 he went to Halifax to host Denny’s Sho for CBC TV and also continued to act, landing the lead in Paul Ledoux’s North Mountain Breakdown as well as many roles at Neptune Theatre.
The Mamas and the Papas were reunited in the early ’80s with original members Doherty, Phillips, plus Spanky McFarlane and McKenzie Phillips. Doherty continues to perform occasionally with the group, squeezing in appearances between theatre engagements such as Fire, The Secret Garden and tapings of his hit children’s TV show Theodore Tugboat.
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