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Floyd Sneed

Floyd Sneed (November 22, 1942 – January 27, 2023) was a Canadian renowned for his dynamic style and contributions to as a founding member of the band . Born in , , to parents Napoleon and Willa Sneed, whose family had roots in Black American settlers fleeing racism, Sneed grew up in a musically inclined church community but drew inspiration from drummers like and . Self-taught on drums after receiving his first kit as a teenager, he overcame childhood challenges including a near-drowning incident and partial vision loss from . Early in his career, Sneed performed with local bands such as Little Daddy & the Bachelors, with whom he won a battle-of-the-bands competition in 1964, and later joined , signing with Records. In 1968, Sneed co-founded in alongside vocalists , , and , plus and , with soon replaced by Allsup. The band achieved massive commercial success, releasing 10 gold or platinum albums and scoring 21 Top 40 singles between 1969 and 1975, including three number-one hits: "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," "," and "." Sneed's infectious beats and showmanship, including flamboyant outfits and drum solos, helped define the group's energetic live performances and broad appeal, blending rock, pop, and soul influences. He co-wrote the instrumental track "" for the band's 1969 album and remained with until 1974, briefly reuniting in 1981. After leaving , Sneed formed the short-lived band SS Fools with former bandmates and vocalist (later of ) and toured with acts including the , while also contributing to sessions with K.A.T.T. In the 1990s and 2000s, he performed with former vocalist and participated in workshops, playing in worship bands. Later in life, Sneed pursued , exhibiting his paintings in galleries, and mentored aspiring drummers. He died in at age 80 from complications of diabetes and renal failure.

Early life

Childhood and family

Floyd Chester Sneed was born on November 22, 1942, in , , , to parents Napoleon Sneed and Willa Sneed (née Carothers). His family was among the first Black families to settle in the city. Sneed grew up alongside an older sister, (later Morrow), and an older brother, Bernie. At age nine, Sneed nearly drowned while swimming, after which he contracted . He was hospitalized for months, and the disease caused partial blindness in one eye, with lingering effects requiring periodic surgeries throughout his life. Sneed's family was musical, with both parents serving as musicians at their local in . This environment provided early exposure to , though Sneed later recalled disliking the performed there, describing it as "some of the worst music in the world." Despite this, the familial and communal setting in 1940s and 1950s immersed him in the local from a young age. His interest in drumming deepened in his youth, culminating in 1960 when he acquired his first on the day his sister married musician ; it was a gift from Maxine herself. This marked the beginning of his focused pursuit of percussion, building on the foundational influences of his upbringing.

Musical development

Floyd Sneed began developing his drumming skills as a self-taught during his adolescence in , , where he showed an early interest in percussion without any formal education. Born into a musical family—his parents were active in their church's music program—he received his first in 1960 at age 18, arranged as a wedding gift through his sister Maxine's marriage to . From his mid-teens onward, Sneed practiced diligently on this basic setup, focusing on building technical proficiency through rather than structured lessons. Sneed's influences stemmed primarily from and drummers, whose innovative techniques and energetic performances shaped his approach. In interviews, he cited listening to pioneers like for showmanship—"I wanted to show off"—along with , , , and , whose rhythmic complexity inspired his own improvisational style. These early exposures led him to experiment with unique elements, such as self-invented patterns and "tricks" that deviated from conventional rock drumming. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Sneed engaged in local performances around , participating in community events and informal gatherings that allowed him to test and refine his abilities. These experiences helped cultivate his distinctive playing style, marked by powerful, infectious beats and a driving rhythmic energy that blended flair with emerging rock elements. Sneed secured his first paid gigs in casual, informal settings as a teenager, often filling in for absent drummers at small venues, which provided practical opportunities to sharpen his timing, endurance, and stage presence without the structure of professional ensembles. This period of hands-on honing solidified his reputation locally for a robust, engaging sound that emphasized groove over flash.

Career

Pre-Three Dog Night work

In 1966, Floyd Sneed relocated from to to pursue music opportunities, forming his own upon arrival. He later spent time in before returning to , where he continued performing in local scenes. Sneed formed the soul group , regularly performing at Hollywood's Red Velvet club on Sunset Boulevard. These gigs showcased his drumming in the vibrant music environment during the late . Earlier in his career, Sneed had been involved with Canadian R&B acts, including Little Daddy and , a band that featured his brother-in-law on guitar. This group evolved into , with Sneed contributing on drums alongside members like Wes Henderson and Bernie Sneed. In 1968, while playing at the Red Velvet club, Sneed was discovered by bassist of the vocal trio Redwood, who recommended him for an audition that led to his recruitment for the newly forming band .

Time with Three Dog Night

Floyd Sneed joined in 1968 as the original drummer, recruited by bassist after an audition alongside the band's founding vocalists , , and . His integration into the group marked the formation of a stable rhythm section that underpinned the band's dynamic sound during its formative years. During his tenure from 1968 to 1974, Sneed contributed to the band's breakthrough albums, including the self-titled debut released in 1969, and provided the driving percussion for major hits such as "One" (1969), "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" (1970, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100), and "Joy to the World" (1971, also No. 1). In addition to drumming, he offered backup vocals, enhancing the group's distinctive three-lead-vocalist arrangement. Sneed's work in the rhythm section, paired with Schermie on bass, delivered a forceful, infectious beat that propelled the band's rock-oriented pop style. Under Sneed's drumming, achieved unprecedented commercial success from 1969 to 1974, amassing more Top 10 hits, , and concert ticket revenue than any other group during that period, with over 20 Top 40 singles and 12 consecutive RIAA-certified gold albums. This era solidified the band's legacy in through extensive touring and recordings that blended covers and originals into accessible, high-energy anthems. Sneed departed in late 1974 amid lineup changes, leaving behind a catalog that continued to influence the genre.

Post-Three Dog Night projects

After leaving Three Dog Night in 1974, Sneed toured with the funk and R&B group the for approximately one year, adapting his rock drumming style to more groove-oriented rhythms. In the late 1970s, Sneed joined the short-lived rock band SS Fools, formed with fellow former Three Dog Night members on bass and on guitar, along with vocalist (later of ); the group released a self-titled album in 1976 featuring tracks like "SS Fools" and toured briefly before disbanding. In 1981, Sneed briefly reunited with Three Dog Night. During the 1980s, Sneed contributed as a backup musician to various projects, including sessions with K.A.T.T., a band that blended rock and funk elements. In 1990, Sneed took on a minor acting role as a drummer in the comedy film Far Out Man, directed by and starring Tommy Chong, marking a brief foray into cinema alongside his musical pursuits. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Sneed performed regularly with former vocalist and participated in workshops, playing in bands. By the early 2000s, Sneed formed his own band, Same Dog New Tricks (also known as Old Dogs New Tricks), with which he toured regional rock circuits, performing covers and originals; he also recorded and toured with K.A.T.T. during this period, maintaining an active presence in live performances into the decade.

Personal life and death

Family and residences

Sneed married "Sandy" Hoiland in 1962, with whom he had two daughters, May and Rozak, before their . He later fathered a son, Zoli Sneed, born in 1976 to Rita Husak. His daughter predeceased him in 2014. He is survived by three grandchildren: Kaitlyn Grey, Riley Rozak, and Payton Rozak. Following his move to in 1966, Sneed briefly resided in before returning to the city. Throughout much of his adult life, he lived in various locales, including , Agoura Hills, and Sun Valley. Sneed maintained close relationships with his siblings into adulthood, including his sister Maxine Morrow (née Sneed), who was married to musician , and his brother Bernard "Bernie" Sneed, who passed away in 2016. Away from the stage, Sneed pursued personal interests such as creating unique artwork, cooking—particularly recreating his mother's recipe—and playing for his local community.

Illness and passing

In the and , Floyd Sneed faced declining health due to several issues, including that progressed to renal failure, which curtailed his musical performances and shifted his focus toward other pursuits such as . Sneed died on January 27, 2023, at the age of 80 in , , with family by his side. In the immediate aftermath, released a statement expressing sorrow over his passing, describing Sneed as "an absolutely wonderful human being, and an amazing musician and friend" who "broke many barriers both musically and culturally," with their hearts going out to his family and friends. Band associate also remembered him as "a unique and powerful and more importantly a kind and special human being."

Legacy

Contributions to rock music

Floyd Sneed's signature drumming style was characterized by a powerful, groove-oriented approach that seamlessly blended , soul, and funk elements, often incorporating what he termed "L'" rhythms—a of Latin and influences that added an infectious, tribal energy to his performances. As a self-taught , Sneed demonstrated remarkable adaptability, employing extroverted techniques such as playing bare-handed on tom-toms during solos and utilizing a distinctive Zickos double-bass to create dynamic, layered beats that emphasized groove over sheer speed. This style drew from influences like and , allowing Sneed to infuse rock tracks with soulful depth and rhythmic complexity. Within Three Dog Night, Sneed's drumming served as the rhythmic backbone, profoundly shaping the band's sound through its rock-pop-R&B fusion, particularly in live performances where his dynamic stage presence and showy fills amplified the group's high-energy appeal. His contributions were evident in hit recordings, such as the No. 1 single "Joy to the World" (1971), where his powerful drumming contributed to the track's upbeat, anthemic drive and helped it become one of the best-selling singles of the era. Sneed's grooves on other tracks like "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" and "One" further exemplified his ability to lock in with the rhythm section, providing a solid yet flexible foundation that supported the band's vocal harmonies and enabled their string of 18 consecutive Top 20 hits. Sneed's work extended a broader impact on 1970s rhythm sections, inspiring drummers in the pop- genre by demonstrating how to integrate and grooves into mainstream without overpowering the ensemble. His technique influenced countless musicians, as seen in his later collaborations with funk outfit the , where his L'African style contributed to their rhythmic innovations, and through the band's overall success—selling over 50 million records by the mid-1970s—which popularized his groove-centric approach across the decade's music landscape.

Recognition and tributes

Floyd Sneed's contributions to Three Dog Night earned him recognition as a key member of a band that achieved significant commercial success, including 21 Billboard Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975, with three reaching number one and 11 in the top 10. He performed on 10 albums certified gold or platinum by the RIAA, contributing his distinctive drumming style—often described as an infectious blend of Latin and African influences—to tracks like "Joy to the World" and "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)." The band, featuring Sneed, appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in its September 14, 1972, issue, highlighting their status as one of rock's top acts with 12 consecutive gold albums. As part of , Sneed shared in two Grammy Award nominations at the in 1972 for "": Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus, and . His innovative percussion work was later honored with induction into the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame, recognizing his role in shaping the band's rhythmic foundation during its peak years from 1968 to 1974 and reunion periods. Following Sneed's death on January 27, 2023, tributes poured in from music industry figures and organizations. issued a statement describing him as "an absolutely wonderful human being, a complete original and a sweetheart of a man" who brought "an extraordinarily unique " energy to their music. Founding vocalist remembered Sneed as "a wonderful man, friend, and musical peer," emphasizing his talent and the void left in the rock community. In a lasting tribute, the Harmony Project established the Floyd Sneed Fund in 2023 to support for underserved youth, honoring his legacy of inspiration through global tours and festival performances. magazine also reflected on his passing, noting his enduring impact on rock drumming through Three Dog Night's hits that continue to resonate.

References

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    Honor Floyd's legacy with the gift of music. Thank you for paying tribute to Floyd Sneed's extraordinary life with a donation to Harmony Project.Bị thiếu: awards | Phải có:awards