When VH-1′s series “Behind The Music” was in its prime, the one episode that I could — and did — watch over and over and over was the story of the spectacular rise and fall of The Mamas & The Papas. It played out like a Shakespearean tragedy, and for some reason it fascinated me.

In case you don’t know the story, here’s a brief summary: John and Michelle Phillips, Denny Doherty and “Mama Cass” Elliot were the original members of the group, with John Phillips as the musical genius behind it. The four friends found their unique harmony, a folk-inspired pop groove. Then, just as they had signed a record contract and were zooming to the top of the charts, internal tensions began to build. Doherty had an affair with Michelle Phillips, which ended up breaking all four hearts (Cass carried a torch for Doherty). Michelle was briefly kicked out of the group, then taken back in. John Phillips wrote the lyrics “I saw her again last night / and I know that I shouldn’t” and gave them to Doherty to sing as a form of revenge.

Eventually, the personal animosity spun out of control, the group broke up, and then Cass Elliot’s tragic death in 1974 ended any hope of a true reunion. John Phillips put together an alternate lineup in the 1980s, including Doherty and Phillips’ daughter Mackenzie Phillips of “One Day at A Time,” but it was more of a novelty than anything else.

At the time the documentary first aired, three of the group’s four original members were still alive. When VH-1 ran a series of 90-minute “director’s cut” episodes a few years later, the updated episode included John Phillips’ 2001 death, and his deathbed reconciliation with Michelle.

Now, Doherty, too, has passed on. He died today in Ontario at the age of 66.

In the documentary, Doherty came across as a likable guy, a guy who got caught up in a whirlwind affair and who realized too late that he had spurned the woman with whom he might have been truly happy. He later worked on projects paying tribute to Mama Cass and seemed in some degree to regret having spurned her.

Now, only Michelle Phillips remains from the original lineup, and she became known more as an actress (“Knots Landing”) than a singer.

A tragic story, only partially redeemed by some great music which will survive for many years to come.