Doug Ingle was a keyboard player who founded the pioneering band Iron Butterfly, for whom he wrote and delivered vocals on the 17-minute rock epic, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”
- Died: May 25, 2024 (Who else died on May 25?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 78.
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Doug Ingle’s legacy
Nebraska-born Doug Ingle had a model for his future career in his father, a church organist who introduced him to the keyboards at an early age. He formed Iron Butterfly in 1966, not long after his teen years, while living in San Diego. Ingle joined with drummer Ron Bushy (1941–2021), guitarist Erik Brann (1950–2003) and bassist Lee Dorman (1942–2012) to create what is considered the classic lineup of Iron Butterfly. That original band recorded four albums with Ingle between 1968 and 1970, plus a live record.
Their best known song, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” was written and sung by Ingle. The title was originally intended to be “In the Garden of Eden.” The sprawling 17-minute song was Iron Butterfly’s only single to reach the top 40 and became an influential and enduring piece of music that has become a mainstay in film and on television, including shows like “Manhunter” and “The Simpsons.” Its sonics are credited with planting the seeds for the hard rock and heavy metal music that developed and grew widely popular afterward, and Iron Butterfly was the first band to get an internal platinum album plaque from their label, Atlantic Records.
Ingle largely left music in the mid-1970s, eventually going on to manage an RV park, though he still played occasional gigs with his former bandmates before retiring for good in 1999.
Tributes to Doug Ingle
Full obituary: NBC News
