Cory Wells, a founding member of Three Dog Night, died unexpectedly on Tuesday in Dunkirk, New York. The cause of death is currently unknown.

Born in Buffalo in 1942, Wells began playing in bands in the Air Force after graduating from high school.

Wells had toured with various iterations of Three Dog Night for the last 40 years until recently developing severe back pain this past September.

Having accrued 21 consecutive Top 40 hits throughout his recording career, Wells was also an avid fisherman and involved in several charity fishing tournaments throughout the country.

Survived by his wife, two daughters and five grandchildren, his death comes six months after the death of original Three Dog Night keyboard player Jimmy Greenspoon.