Doug Ingle, popularly known for being the founding singer and organist of Iron Butterfly, has passed away at the age of 78.
The late musician's son, Lou Babinga, took to social media to confirm the tragic news by posting an old band poster on the St. Louis Classic Rock group page.
"It's with a heavy heart & great sadness to announce the passing of my Father Doug Ingle. Dad passed away peacefully this evening in the presence of family," he wrote.
He then expressed his gratitude to his father for being a teacher and friend to him, adding, "Cherished loving memories I will carry the rest of my days moving forward in this journey of life. Love you Dad." Babingad didn't share the late organist's official cause of death.
According to Rolling Stone, Ingle was the last surviving member of Iron Butterfly's classic lineup as his bandmates Erik Brann died in 2003, Lee Dornan died in 2012, and Ron Bushy passed away in 2021.
Doug Lloyd Ingle was born on September 9, 1945, in Omaha, Nebraska. His father influenced him to pursue music. A few months after his birth, his family moved to the Rocky Mountains before eventually settling down in San Diego.
Initially, Ingle and Bushy were the original members, and Dornan and Brann replaced the others later. With the said lineup, the band went on to have a successful career, especially after releasing "In-A-Gadda-Vida," a song that is 17 minutes long.
The song became a massive hit as it reportedly sold 30 million copies.
Since the track was successful, the classic lineup attempted to amass more reach by releasing the album Ball in 1969. Ingle mostly wrote the record's tracklist but did not have any hit singles.
Ingle remained with the group and recorded the album Metamorphosis, but they disbanded in 1971. One reason they broke up was debts caused by mismanagement.
Bushy and Brann reunited and revived Iron Butterfly in 1975, but Ingle didn't partake in the reunion. However, he was able to perform with some iterations of the group that toured within the next few decades, the last one being in 1999.
Fans on social media remembered Doug Ingle, as one wrote on X: "Your music is in my heart and mind. I will take it with me when I pass. Thank you for my youthful life."
Another one wrote, "Oh man. God bless his soul, forever."
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