News in brief: Papa Denny passes on; Fats Domino Day; ? Loses Home

Denny Doherty, former vocalist and founding member of the legendary Sixties group The Mamas and the Papas, passed away Friday at his home in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The 66-year-old, who died after complications from stomach aneurysm surgery, sang lead on many of the group's big hits, including "California Dreamin'," also created a stage musical of the group entitled Dream A Little Dream Of Me and later appeared as the Harbor Master, host of the popular CBC children's show Theodore Tugboat. Doherty is survived by four siblings, and also three children, Emberly, Jessica, and John; Michelle Phillips is now the only living member of the original band...
New Orleans' Offbeat Magazine hosts its 12th Annual "Best of the Beat" music awards on January 27, and Mayor Ray Nagin plans to present the fete's main honoree, Fats Domino, with a proclamation declaring the 27th "Fats Domino Day" in the city forevermore. Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Art Neville, Kermit Ruffins, Jon Cleary, and Al “Carnival Time” Johnson are scheduled to pay tribute to the legendary pianist and rock icon. The gala will take place at the local House of Blues. Domino, a longtime resident of the city's Ninth Ward, survived Hurricane Katrina and now lives in the relatively undamaged West Bank section of the area...
Fire has destroyed the home of Rudy Martinez, better known as the ? in the garage-rock Sixties group ? and the Mysterians, whose uninsured house in Vienna Township, Michigan burned to the ground last week. The "96 Tears" singer is said to have lost four Yorkshire terriers, a cockatoo, and 40 years of music memorabilia, including a gold record of the band's only hit. Benefits are planned for the Detroit native, who shared the house with his manager and wife and is currently living out of a tour bus; donations can be sent to ? & The Mysterians, P.O. Box 96, Clio, MI 48420.