So glad you've discovered the Righteous Brothers! Please give a listen to the Righteous Brothers performing Unchained Melody live 1965...you're going to melt!!!
These guys were awesome when they came out in 1964. Our baby boomers music. These guys had so many hits in the 60s. You need to look for more of their songs. We called them blue-eyed soul. RIP Bobby Hatfied. We miss hearing your beautiful voice! ❤❤❤
Blue eyed soul. Both guys were incredible singers, you've probably heard the other dude sing Unchained Melody. Two iconic performances in the history Rock n Roll music:)
Just watching and listening to them again, brings tears to my eyes. The greatest song, written especially for the greatest duo of all time. Bobby and Bill, 60 years after they began as "The Paramours" are still listened to every day. Young lady, I hope you have had the pleasure of hearing some more of their music. Bobby passed away almost 20 years ago, he will celebrate his 83rd birthday in Heaven on the 10th of this month. Bill is still here, performing, at the age of 82. El Toro was a Marine base, a small club in So. California near there, they were performing, and a group of Black Marines were there. One of them stood up and yelled, "That's righteous, Brothers!" A short while later, Bobby suggested they adopt the name.
Their names: Bobby Hatfield was on the left and had higher voice. Bill Medley on the right with baritone voice. They are not actually blood related brothers. Someone already suggested you should listen to "Unchained Melody". You will love it. No Bill in this one just Bobby. Loved your reaction.
Listen to the Righteous Brothers on the Ed Sullivan Show singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. You’ll be surprised at the ending of the song. They weren’t called Blue-eyed soul for nothing!
An extra loving reaction 💝❤💓! You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling was released as the lead single from The Righteous Brothers 1965 album: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. It was written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It was produced by Phil Spector. The song reached #1 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Cash Box 100. In 1965, the Righteous Brothers recording of the song: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", was nominated in the Best Rock and Roll Recording category at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards. It was also awarded Best Pop Single To Date 1965 in the Billboard Disc Jockey Poll. Bill Medley, the first to sing, is the singer that was singing lead right there. They are an example of some more "Blue-Eyed Soul" singers. In 1999 the performing-rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) ranked the song as the most-played song on American radio and television in the 20th century, having accumulated more than 8 million airplays by 1999, and nearly 15 million by 2011. It held the distinction of being the most-played song for 22 years until 2019, when it was overtaken by the The Police's song: "Every Breath You Take". In 2001, this song was ranked at No. 9 in the list of Songs of the Century released by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2004, the song was ranked at No. 34 by Rolling Stone magazine in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2005, the song was awarded the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Towering Song Award presented to "the creators of an individual song that has influenced the culture in a unique way over many years". In 2015, the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, which each year selects from 130 years of sound recordings for special recognition and preservation, chose The Righteous Brothers' song rendition of: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", as one of the 25 recordings that have "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation's audio legacy". The song: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", has been covered successfully by numerous artists. In 1965, Cilla Black's recording reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart. Dionne Warwick took her version to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. A 1971 duet version by singers Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Long John Baldry charted at No. 2 in Australia with his 1979 remake and a 1980 version by Hall And Oates reached No. 12 on the Hot 100. The song has been featured in the big screen films 📽: Stardust (1974) and Top Gun (1986). The song has been featured in the television shows-television movies 📺: It's What's Happening, Baby! (1965), Cheers (1986, 1989 x 2) and, Phil Spector (2013). The Righteous Brothers Info 📰: The Righteous Brothers are a musical duo originally formed by William "Bill" Thomas Medley and Robert "Bobby" Lee Hatfield in 1962-63, but now, in 2023, the group is comprised of Bill Medley and Bucky Heard. William "Bill" Thomas Medley was born on September 19, 1940 in Santa Ana, California .He attended Santa Ana High School, graduating in 1958. He sang in the church choir while growing up and his parents had a Swing band. He became interested in R&B music through listening to black-oriented radio stations. An early influence he has cited is Little Richard, who he first heard when he was fifteen or sixteen years old, and later Ray Charles, Bobby "Blue" Bland and B.B. King. Bill Medley first formed a singing duo called "The Romancers" with his friend Don Fiduccia, who also played the guitar. He began to write songs and record multi-track recordings in his own living room. At 19, he had two songs: "Womaling" and "Chimes Of My Heart," recorded by vocal group "The Diamonds". Bill Medley and Don Fiduccia then formed a group called "The Paramours" in 1960, with Sal Fasulo and Nick Tuturro, later joined by Bobby Hatfield, Mike Rider and Barry Rillera. The band had its first paying gig at Little Italy restaurant in Anaheim, California. "The Paramours" were signed to Mercury Records' subsidiary label Smash Records, releasing such songs including: "That's The Way We Love" and "Miss Social Climber", in 1961. Robert "Bobby" Lee Hatfield was born on August 10, 1940 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin but grew up in Anaheim, California. He attended Anaheim High School, where he played football and baseball, and was co-captain of the basketball team. He was student body president in the 1957-1958 school year, graduating in 1958. He briefly considered signing as a professional ballplayer, but his passion for music led him to pursue a singing career while still attending high school. He attended Fullerton College. He eventually encountered his singing partner, Bill Medley, while attending California State University, Long Beach. He is an alumnus of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He passed away on November 5, 2003 in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the age of 63. Bill Medley formed the group with Bobby Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Los Angeles area as part of a five-member group called "The Paramours", and adopted the name The Righteous Brothers when they became a duo. They were often told that they sounded like African-American Gospel singers and chose the group name after some black Marines remarked of their singing: "that's righteous, brothers", and called them, "righteous brothers". Their most active recording period was in the 1960s and 1970s, and, after several years inactive as a duo, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley reunited in 1981 and continued to perform until Bobby Hatfield's death in 2003. The music they performed is sometimes dubbed "Blue-Eyed Soul". Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley had contrasting vocal ranges, which helped them create a distinctive sound as a duet. They each had the vocal talent to perform as soloists. Bill Medley sang the low parts with his bass-baritone voice, with Bobby Hatfield taking the higher-register vocals with his tenor. His voice reached the register of a countertenor. Following a year and a half of Top 40 non-entries on Billboard's Hot 100, the duo hit big with the late-1964 release of what would become their signature record: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", a transatlantic number one hit song produced by Phil Spector, often considered one of his finest works and a landmark recording in popular music. Other notable hits include three US 1965 Top Tens - "Just Once In My Life" and covers of "Unchained Melody" (also a huge hit in 1990 after being featured in the film Ghost) and "Ebb Tide" - and the massive US 1966 number one "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration", plus the 1974 comeback hit "Rock And Roll Heaven". Both Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley split up in February 1968, a breakup that would last for more than six years, when Bill Medley left to pursue a solo career. Bill Medley recorded a few solo recordings on several different record labels, while Bobby Hatfield teamed up with singer Jimmy Walker (from The Knickerbockers) using The Righteous Brothers name on the MGM Records record label releasing the album: Re-Birth, in 1969. In 1972, Bill Medley was nominated for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist in the 1972 Grammy Awards for his recording of the song: "Freedom And Fear", a track from Michel Colombier's album: Wings. Bill Medley has released 14 solo albums between 1968 and 2007. While Bobby Hatfield released one solo album in 1971. In 1974, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield announced their reunion at an appearance on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour television show. They signed with Haven Records, and within a few weeks of reforming, they recorded their comeback song: "Rock And Roll Heaven", a paean to several deceased Rock singers which became a hit, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Several more minor hits on Haven Records followed. After 1975, however, The Righteous Brothers would not appear on music charts except for re-releases of older songs and compilation albums, some of which were re-recordings of earlier works. Between 1976 and 1981, Hatfield and Medley stopped performing as a duo after the death of Medley's first wife, as he wanted time off to look after his son. They reunited for an anniversary special on American Bandstand in 1981 to perform an updated version of the song: "Rock And Roll Heaven". They resumed touring intermittently, and they recorded a 21st Anniversary Celebration concert in 1983 at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, which was later released on video and was also aired on television. In the late 1970s, Bill Medley once again began to record as a solo artist and had some success in the 1980s. In 1984, he scored country hits with the songs: "Till Your Memory's Gone" and "I Still Do", the latter also an Adult-Contemporary music chart crossover hit. In late 1987, his duet with Jennifer Warnes: "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life", which appeared on the soundtrack for the 1987 film: Dirty Dancing, topped the Billboard Hot 100. It won them a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. In 1990, Bobby Hatfield's original recording of the song: "Unchained Melody", was featured in the popular 1990 film: Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. It triggered an avalanche of requests to Top 40 radio stations by fans who had seen the movie to play the 1965 Righteous Brothers' song recording. This motivated Polygram records to re-release the song to Top 40 radio. It became a major hit for a second time, reaching No. 13 on the Hot 100 in 1990. It also became their second No. 1 in the UK. The duo quickly re-recorded another version of the song: "Unchained Melody", for Curb Records. The re-recorded version of the song: "Unchained Melody", hit No. 19 on the Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). ****CONTINUE BELOW****
They also re-recorded other songs for a 1990 compilation album: The Best Of The Righteous Brothers, released by Curb Records. Bill Medley would later describe the re-recordings as "artistically, a stupid idea; financially, a wonderfully idea". The album sold very well and received a double platinum certification from the RIAA. A greatest hits album collection of the original recordings called: The Very Best of The Righteous Brothers...Unchained Melody, was released later in 1990 by Polydor Records. This compilation album also became their first entry in the UK album chart. They began to tour extensively all through the 1990s and early 2000s and performed for about 12 weeks a year in Las Vegas. Bobby Hatfield 🙏 was found unconscious in his hotel room in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on November 5, 2003. He was found in the hotel room by Bill Medley and The Righteous Brothers' road manager Dusty Hanvey shortly after he missed a scheduled performance with Bill Medley at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium. The autopsy report attributed his death to heart failure brought on by cocaine usage and advanced coronary disease. Bill Medley continued to perform as a solo artist for some time after Bobby Hatfield's passing, occasionally singing with a screen projection of old film footage of Bobby Hatfield. In 2016, Bill Medley re-formed The Righteous Brothers with Bucky Heard (born on July 14, 1965 in Dadeville, Alabama), an Auburn University graduate and established entertainer/performer. They performed at Las Vegas's Harrah's Showroom for more than 40 shows from March 23, 2016, to November 8, 2016. Bucky Heard has since communicated that he knows he can never replace Bobby Hatfield, nor will he attempt to do so and that he intends to sing like Hatfield rather than sound like him. They would later release an album called: The Righteous Brothers, in 2016, featuring several of The Righteous Brothers' hit singles sung by Bill Medley and Bucky Heard. In 2020, former group member Jimmy Walker 🙏passed away at his home in California at the age of 79. No cause of death has been reported. The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked them no. 16 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. The Righteous Brothers still perform their music live on stage in 2023. The Righteous Brothers Group Members (*Original Member) 👨🎤👨🎤👨🎤👨🎤: Current Members *Bill Medley (1962-1968, 1974-1976, 1981-2003, 2016-present) Bucky Heard (2016-present) Former Members *Bobby Hatfield (1962-1971, 1974-1976, 1981-2003; passed away in 2003) Jimmy Walker (1968-1971; passed away in 2020) The Righteous Brothers Albums 📀: Right Now! (1963) Some Blue-Eyed Soul (1964) This Is New! (1965) You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling (1965) Just Once In My Life.. (1965) Back To Back (1965) Soul & Inspiration (1966) Go Ahead And Cry (1966) Sayin' Something (1967) Souled Out (1967) One For The Road (1968) Re-Birth as Bobby Hatfield & Jimmy Walker (1969) Give It To The People (1974) Sons Of Mrs Righteous (1975) The Righteous Brothers as Bill Medley & Bucky Heard (2016) Bobby Hatfield Albums 📀: Messin' In Muscle Shoals (1971) Jimmy Walker Albums (w/ The Knickerbockers) 📀: Lloyd Thaxton Presents The Knickerbockers (1965) Lies (1966) Jerk & Twine Time (1966) The Great Lost Knickerbockers Album (1989) Bill Medley Albums 📀: Bill Medley 100% (1968) Soft And Soulful (1969) Gone (1970) Someone Is Standing Outside (1970) A Song For You (1971) Smile (1973) Lay A Little Lovin' On Me (1978) Sweet Thunder (1981) Right Here And Now (1982) I Still Do (1983) Still Hung Up On You (1985) The Best Of Bill Medley (1988) Going Home (1993) Damn Near Righteous (2007) Some good songs by The Righteous Brothers 🎶: Just Once In My Life, Unchained Melody, Rock And Roll Heaven, This Little Girl Of Mine, Po' Folks, A Man Without A Dream, Ebb Tide, Hung On You, Little Latin Lupe Lu, If You're Lying You'll Be Crying, He, The White Cliffs Of Dover, (You're My) Soul And Inspiration, On This Side Of Goodbye, I Just Want To Make Love To You, My Babe, Ko Ko Joe, Stranded In The Middle Of No Place, Go Ahead And Cry, See That Girl, Try To Find Another Man, Hang Ups, Bring Your Love To Me, You Can Have Her, Love Or Magic, Justine, Georgia On My Mind, Melancholy Music Man, Brown Eyed Woman, Hot Tamales, I Can't Make It Alone, He Will Break Your Heart, For Sentimental Reasons, Let It Be Me, Give It To The People, The Angels Listened In, Dream On, You Are My Sunshine, Late Late Night, I Just Wanna Be Me, There She Goes (She's Walking Away), Gotta Tell You How I Feel, The Blues, I Need A Girl, Fannie Mae, Sick And Tired, Hey Girl, Rat Race, In That Great Gettin' Up Mornin', I'm So Lonely, There's A Woman, Good N' Nuff, High Blood Pressure, I Who Have Nothing, Been So Nice, Fee-Fi-Fidily-I-O, B-Flat Blues, I Still Love You, My Tears Will Go Away, Island In The Sun, Bring Your Love To Me, Things Didn't Go Your Way, Over And Over, Along Came Jones, Stand By, Let The Good Times Roll, What'd I Say, Old Man River, She's Mine All Mine, What Now My Love, Oo-Poo-Pah-Do, Jimmy's Blues, Don't Give Up On Me, Love Is Not A Dirty Word, And The Party Goes On, Sticks And Stones, Woman Man Needs Ya, God Bless The Child, Big Boy Pete, So Many Lonely Nights Ahead, Burn On Love, The Great Pretender, Dr Rock And Roll, Hallelujah I Love Her So, Baby What You Want Me To Do, Cryin' Blues, You'll Never Walk Alone, I Believe, Summertime, Big Time Ben, Night Owl, Change Is Goin' To Come, Together Again, If I Ruled The World, Substitute, Guess Who?, Turn On Your Love Lights, Bring It On Home, Something's Got A Hold On Me, Stagger Lee, Come Rain Or Come Shine, I've Got The Beat, Harlem Shuffle, Look At Me, Love Keeps Callin' My Name, Soul City, Put A Little Love In Your Heart, Young Blood, Soulville, Along Came Jones, Lighten Up, Fare Ye Well, Nobody's Gonna Take Me (To This Feelin'), Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Born On The Bayou, Let Me Make The Music, That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day), One Summer Night, Hold On (To What You Got), Cherry Pie, Earth Angel and Save The Last Dance For Me. Fun Fact 🕵♂: In 1990, The Righteous Brothers made history as the first music industry act to have two versions of the same song: "Unchained Melody", in the Top 20 at the same time.
They allways give chills…. allways surprised us , specially to young generations not used to great natural voices , that was required back in the 60’s to be famous ! And they have so manny amaizing songs you would be delighted to listen and react. When not famous they performed on a South club near a black marine base. Those heard some whites where going to sing and went to listen them. Got so impressed that applause shouting That’s righteous, brothers ! And they adopted the name 😅
Love your reaction. These guys are among the greatest of all time. Please do yourself a favor and listen to the Righteous Brothers singing "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" and "Unchained Melody." You'll be happy you did.
This was a huge hit when I was a senior in HS. They called it "blue-eyed soul". Please react to "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" by Elvin Bishop Band, live on Midnight Special. New sub., thumbs up!
There’s many reasons to this song be the most played in the 20th century and even today blow our minds… and Vanity Fair described the song as "the most erotic duet between men on record” ❤
Some reactions to consider 🤔: Marvin Gaye- Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler), Billie Holiday- Strange Fruit Live 1959 (ReelinInTheYears66 YT channel) or War- Lowrider.
Bobby Hatfield-Tenor Bill Medley- Baritone Story has it that hey got their name from earlier in their career when after a set, someone walked up to Bill and said, "That was righteous brother." Also story has it that Tina Turner was one of the backup singers.
So glad you've discovered the Righteous Brothers! Please give a listen to the Righteous Brothers performing Unchained Melody live 1965...you're going to melt!!!
Their voice are like Thunder and Lightning and without auto-tune!
You can't go wrong with the Righteous Brothers!!!
Try Soul and inspiration and Unchained melody next, loved your reaction to Blue eyed soul!
These guys were awesome when they came out in 1964. Our baby boomers music. These guys had so many hits in the 60s. You need to look for more of their songs. We called them blue-eyed soul. RIP Bobby Hatfied. We miss hearing your beautiful voice! ❤❤❤
Everybody loves this song.
It’s Rhythm & Blues! Iconic duo! Real music! 😎🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
It really sucks being 67 now, but it was so great to grow up with the music back then. Enjoy your reactions.
SPEECHLESS 🔥🔥
These guys are amazing! True icons! Love your reaction!
The most played record of the 20th century. ALL the ladies loved them 😊
The most listened to song on radio and tv in the twentieth century .
Blue eyed soul. Both guys were incredible singers, you've probably heard the other dude sing Unchained Melody. Two iconic performances in the history Rock n Roll music:)
Just watching and listening to them again, brings tears to my eyes. The greatest song, written especially for the greatest duo of all time. Bobby and Bill, 60 years after they began as "The Paramours" are still listened to every day. Young lady, I hope you have had the pleasure of hearing some more of their music. Bobby passed away almost 20 years ago, he will celebrate his 83rd birthday in Heaven on the 10th of this month. Bill is still here, performing, at the age of 82. El Toro was a Marine base, a small club in So. California near there, they were performing, and a group of Black Marines were there. One of them stood up and yelled, "That's righteous, Brothers!" A short while later, Bobby suggested they adopt the name.
Their names: Bobby Hatfield was on the left and had higher voice. Bill Medley on the right with baritone voice. They are not actually blood related brothers. Someone already suggested you should listen to "Unchained Melody". You will love it. No Bill in this one just Bobby. Loved your reaction.
Listen to the Righteous Brothers on the Ed Sullivan Show singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. You’ll be surprised at the ending of the song. They weren’t called Blue-eyed soul for nothing!
An extra loving reaction 💝❤💓! You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling was released as the lead single from The Righteous Brothers 1965 album: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. It was written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. It was produced by Phil Spector. The song reached #1 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Cash Box 100. In 1965, the Righteous Brothers recording of the song: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", was nominated in the Best Rock and Roll Recording category at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards. It was also awarded Best Pop Single To Date 1965 in the Billboard Disc Jockey Poll. Bill Medley, the first to sing, is the singer that was singing lead right there. They are an example of some more "Blue-Eyed Soul" singers.
In 1999 the performing-rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) ranked the song as the most-played song on American radio and television in the 20th century, having accumulated more than 8 million airplays by 1999, and nearly 15 million by 2011. It held the distinction of being the most-played song for 22 years until 2019, when it was overtaken by the The Police's song: "Every Breath You Take".
In 2001, this song was ranked at No. 9 in the list of Songs of the Century released by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2004, the song was ranked at No. 34 by Rolling Stone magazine in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2005, the song was awarded the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Towering Song Award presented to "the creators of an individual song that has influenced the culture in a unique way over many years".
In 2015, the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, which each year selects from 130 years of sound recordings for special recognition and preservation, chose The Righteous Brothers' song rendition of: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", as one of the 25 recordings that have "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation's audio legacy".
The song: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", has been covered successfully by numerous artists. In 1965, Cilla Black's recording reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart. Dionne Warwick took her version to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. A 1971 duet version by singers Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Long John Baldry charted at No. 2 in Australia with his 1979 remake and a 1980 version by Hall And Oates reached No. 12 on the Hot 100.
The song has been featured in the big screen films 📽: Stardust (1974) and Top Gun (1986).
The song has been featured in the television shows-television movies 📺: It's What's Happening, Baby! (1965), Cheers (1986, 1989 x 2) and, Phil Spector (2013).
The Righteous Brothers Info 📰:
The Righteous Brothers are a musical duo originally formed by William "Bill" Thomas Medley and Robert "Bobby" Lee Hatfield in 1962-63, but now, in 2023, the group is comprised of Bill Medley and Bucky Heard.
William "Bill" Thomas Medley was born on September 19, 1940 in Santa Ana, California .He attended Santa Ana High School, graduating in 1958. He sang in the church choir while growing up and his parents had a Swing band. He became interested in R&B music through listening to black-oriented radio stations. An early influence he has cited is Little Richard, who he first heard when he was fifteen or sixteen years old, and later Ray Charles, Bobby "Blue" Bland and B.B. King.
Bill Medley first formed a singing duo called "The Romancers" with his friend Don Fiduccia, who also played the guitar. He began to write songs and record multi-track recordings in his own living room. At 19, he had two songs: "Womaling" and "Chimes Of My Heart," recorded by vocal group "The Diamonds". Bill Medley and Don Fiduccia then formed a group called "The Paramours" in 1960, with Sal Fasulo and Nick Tuturro, later joined by Bobby Hatfield, Mike Rider and Barry Rillera. The band had its first paying gig at Little Italy restaurant in Anaheim, California. "The Paramours" were signed to Mercury Records' subsidiary label Smash Records, releasing such songs including: "That's The Way We Love" and "Miss Social Climber", in 1961.
Robert "Bobby" Lee Hatfield was born on August 10, 1940 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin but grew up in Anaheim, California. He attended Anaheim High School, where he played football and baseball, and was co-captain of the basketball team. He was student body president in the 1957-1958 school year, graduating in 1958. He briefly considered signing as a professional ballplayer, but his passion for music led him to pursue a singing career while still attending high school. He attended Fullerton College. He eventually encountered his singing partner, Bill Medley, while attending California State University, Long Beach. He is an alumnus of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He passed away on November 5, 2003 in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the age of 63.
Bill Medley formed the group with Bobby Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Los Angeles area as part of a five-member group called "The Paramours", and adopted the name The Righteous Brothers when they became a duo. They were often told that they sounded like African-American Gospel singers and chose the group name after some black Marines remarked of their singing: "that's righteous, brothers", and called them, "righteous brothers". Their most active recording period was in the 1960s and 1970s, and, after several years inactive as a duo, Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley reunited in 1981 and continued to perform until Bobby Hatfield's death in 2003. The music they performed is sometimes dubbed "Blue-Eyed Soul".
Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley had contrasting vocal ranges, which helped them create a distinctive sound as a duet. They each had the vocal talent to perform as soloists. Bill Medley sang the low parts with his bass-baritone voice, with Bobby Hatfield taking the higher-register vocals with his tenor. His voice reached the register of a countertenor.
Following a year and a half of Top 40 non-entries on Billboard's Hot 100, the duo hit big with the late-1964 release of what would become their signature record: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", a transatlantic number one hit song produced by Phil Spector, often considered one of his finest works and a landmark recording in popular music. Other notable hits include three US 1965 Top Tens - "Just Once In My Life" and covers of "Unchained Melody" (also a huge hit in 1990 after being featured in the film Ghost) and "Ebb Tide" - and the massive US 1966 number one "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration", plus the 1974 comeback hit "Rock And Roll Heaven".
Both Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley split up in February 1968, a breakup that would last for more than six years, when Bill Medley left to pursue a solo career. Bill Medley recorded a few solo recordings on several different record labels, while Bobby Hatfield teamed up with singer Jimmy Walker (from The Knickerbockers) using The Righteous Brothers name on the MGM Records record label releasing the album: Re-Birth, in 1969. In 1972, Bill Medley was nominated for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist in the 1972 Grammy Awards for his recording of the song: "Freedom And Fear", a track from Michel Colombier's album: Wings. Bill Medley has released 14 solo albums between 1968 and 2007. While Bobby Hatfield released one solo album in 1971.
In 1974, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield announced their reunion at an appearance on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour television show. They signed with Haven Records, and within a few weeks of reforming, they recorded their comeback song: "Rock And Roll Heaven", a paean to several deceased Rock singers which became a hit, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Several more minor hits on Haven Records followed. After 1975, however, The Righteous Brothers would not appear on music charts except for re-releases of older songs and compilation albums, some of which were re-recordings of earlier works.
Between 1976 and 1981, Hatfield and Medley stopped performing as a duo after the death of Medley's first wife, as he wanted time off to look after his son. They reunited for an anniversary special on American Bandstand in 1981 to perform an updated version of the song: "Rock And Roll Heaven". They resumed touring intermittently, and they recorded a 21st Anniversary Celebration concert in 1983 at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, which was later released on video and was also aired on television.
In the late 1970s, Bill Medley once again began to record as a solo artist and had some success in the 1980s. In 1984, he scored country hits with the songs: "Till Your Memory's Gone" and "I Still Do", the latter also an Adult-Contemporary music chart crossover hit. In late 1987, his duet with Jennifer Warnes: "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life", which appeared on the soundtrack for the 1987 film: Dirty Dancing, topped the Billboard Hot 100. It won them a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
In 1990, Bobby Hatfield's original recording of the song: "Unchained Melody", was featured in the popular 1990 film: Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. It triggered an avalanche of requests to Top 40 radio stations by fans who had seen the movie to play the 1965 Righteous Brothers' song recording. This motivated Polygram records to re-release the song to Top 40 radio. It became a major hit for a second time, reaching No. 13 on the Hot 100 in 1990. It also became their second No. 1 in the UK. The duo quickly re-recorded another version of the song: "Unchained Melody", for Curb Records. The re-recorded version of the song: "Unchained Melody", hit No. 19 on the Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
****CONTINUE BELOW****
They also re-recorded other songs for a 1990 compilation album: The Best Of The Righteous Brothers, released by Curb Records. Bill Medley would later describe the re-recordings as "artistically, a stupid idea; financially, a wonderfully idea". The album sold very well and received a double platinum certification from the RIAA. A greatest hits album collection of the original recordings called: The Very Best of The Righteous Brothers...Unchained Melody, was released later in 1990 by Polydor Records. This compilation album also became their first entry in the UK album chart. They began to tour extensively all through the 1990s and early 2000s and performed for about 12 weeks a year in Las Vegas.
Bobby Hatfield 🙏 was found unconscious in his hotel room in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on November 5, 2003. He was found in the hotel room by Bill Medley and The Righteous Brothers' road manager Dusty Hanvey shortly after he missed a scheduled performance with Bill Medley at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium. The autopsy report attributed his death to heart failure brought on by cocaine usage and advanced coronary disease. Bill Medley continued to perform as a solo artist for some time after Bobby Hatfield's passing, occasionally singing with a screen projection of old film footage of Bobby Hatfield.
In 2016, Bill Medley re-formed The Righteous Brothers with Bucky Heard (born on July 14, 1965 in Dadeville, Alabama), an Auburn University graduate and established entertainer/performer. They performed at Las Vegas's Harrah's Showroom for more than 40 shows from March 23, 2016, to November 8, 2016. Bucky Heard has since communicated that he knows he can never replace Bobby Hatfield, nor will he attempt to do so and that he intends to sing like Hatfield rather than sound like him. They would later release an album called: The Righteous Brothers, in 2016, featuring several of The Righteous Brothers' hit singles sung by Bill Medley and Bucky Heard.
In 2020, former group member Jimmy Walker 🙏passed away at his home in California at the age of 79. No cause of death has been reported.
The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked them no. 16 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. The Righteous Brothers still perform their music live on stage in 2023.
The Righteous Brothers Group Members (*Original Member) 👨🎤👨🎤👨🎤👨🎤:
Current Members
*Bill Medley (1962-1968, 1974-1976, 1981-2003, 2016-present)
Bucky Heard (2016-present)
Former Members
*Bobby Hatfield (1962-1971, 1974-1976, 1981-2003; passed away in 2003)
Jimmy Walker (1968-1971; passed away in 2020)
The Righteous Brothers Albums 📀:
Right Now! (1963)
Some Blue-Eyed Soul (1964)
This Is New! (1965)
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling (1965)
Just Once In My Life.. (1965)
Back To Back (1965)
Soul & Inspiration (1966)
Go Ahead And Cry (1966)
Sayin' Something (1967)
Souled Out (1967)
One For The Road (1968)
Re-Birth as Bobby Hatfield & Jimmy Walker (1969)
Give It To The People (1974)
Sons Of Mrs Righteous (1975)
The Righteous Brothers as Bill Medley & Bucky Heard (2016)
Bobby Hatfield Albums 📀:
Messin' In Muscle Shoals (1971)
Jimmy Walker Albums (w/ The Knickerbockers) 📀:
Lloyd Thaxton Presents The Knickerbockers (1965)
Lies (1966)
Jerk & Twine Time (1966)
The Great Lost Knickerbockers Album (1989)
Bill Medley Albums 📀:
Bill Medley 100% (1968)
Soft And Soulful (1969)
Gone (1970)
Someone Is Standing Outside (1970)
A Song For You (1971)
Smile (1973)
Lay A Little Lovin' On Me (1978)
Sweet Thunder (1981)
Right Here And Now (1982)
I Still Do (1983)
Still Hung Up On You (1985)
The Best Of Bill Medley (1988)
Going Home (1993)
Damn Near Righteous (2007)
Some good songs by The Righteous Brothers 🎶: Just Once In My Life, Unchained Melody, Rock And Roll Heaven, This Little Girl Of Mine, Po' Folks, A Man Without A Dream, Ebb Tide, Hung On You, Little Latin Lupe Lu, If You're Lying You'll Be Crying, He, The White Cliffs Of Dover, (You're My) Soul And Inspiration, On This Side Of Goodbye, I Just Want To Make Love To You, My Babe, Ko Ko Joe, Stranded In The Middle Of No Place, Go Ahead And Cry, See That Girl, Try To Find Another Man, Hang Ups, Bring Your Love To Me, You Can Have Her, Love Or Magic, Justine, Georgia On My Mind, Melancholy Music Man, Brown Eyed Woman, Hot Tamales, I Can't Make It Alone, He Will Break Your Heart, For Sentimental Reasons, Let It Be Me, Give It To The People, The Angels Listened In, Dream On, You Are My Sunshine, Late Late Night, I Just Wanna Be Me, There She Goes (She's Walking Away), Gotta Tell You How I Feel, The Blues, I Need A Girl, Fannie Mae, Sick And Tired, Hey Girl, Rat Race, In That Great Gettin' Up Mornin', I'm So Lonely, There's A Woman, Good N' Nuff, High Blood Pressure, I Who Have Nothing, Been So Nice, Fee-Fi-Fidily-I-O, B-Flat Blues, I Still Love You, My Tears Will Go Away, Island In The Sun, Bring Your Love To Me, Things Didn't Go Your Way, Over And Over, Along Came Jones, Stand By, Let The Good Times Roll, What'd I Say, Old Man River, She's Mine All Mine, What Now My Love, Oo-Poo-Pah-Do, Jimmy's Blues, Don't Give Up On Me, Love Is Not A Dirty Word, And The Party Goes On, Sticks And Stones, Woman Man Needs Ya, God Bless The Child, Big Boy Pete, So Many Lonely Nights Ahead, Burn On Love, The Great Pretender, Dr Rock And Roll, Hallelujah I Love Her So, Baby What You Want Me To Do, Cryin' Blues, You'll Never Walk Alone, I Believe, Summertime, Big Time Ben, Night Owl, Change Is Goin' To Come, Together Again, If I Ruled The World, Substitute, Guess Who?, Turn On Your Love Lights, Bring It On Home, Something's Got A Hold On Me, Stagger Lee, Come Rain Or Come Shine, I've Got The Beat, Harlem Shuffle, Look At Me, Love Keeps Callin' My Name, Soul City, Put A Little Love In Your Heart, Young Blood, Soulville, Along Came Jones, Lighten Up, Fare Ye Well, Nobody's Gonna Take Me (To This Feelin'), Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Born On The Bayou, Let Me Make The Music, That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day), One Summer Night, Hold On (To What You Got), Cherry Pie, Earth Angel and Save The Last Dance For Me.
Fun Fact 🕵♂: In 1990, The Righteous Brothers made history as the first music industry act to have two versions of the same song: "Unchained Melody", in the Top 20 at the same time.
@@IceManLikeGervin Bobby wasn't unconscious when found; he was dead. He had passed away in his sleep hours before.
Beautiful reaction
Love these best duo ever! Love me some blue eyed soul! Great reaction!
Thank you!!
Welcome to the REAL WORLD and REAL MUSIC.
Love them❤
Classic
They allways give chills…. allways surprised us , specially to young generations not used to great natural voices , that was required back in the 60’s to be famous ! And they have so manny amaizing songs you would be delighted to listen and react. When not famous they performed on a South club near a black marine base. Those heard some whites where going to sing and went to listen them. Got so impressed that applause shouting That’s righteous, brothers ! And they adopted the name 😅
Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield; one of the greatest duos of all time.
You just watched some Blue eyed soul. This was the most requested song on the radio in the 20th Century
Love your reaction. These guys are among the greatest of all time. Please do yourself a favor and listen to the Righteous Brothers singing "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" and "Unchained Melody." You'll be happy you did.
This was a huge hit when I was a senior in HS. They called it "blue-eyed soul". Please react to "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" by Elvin Bishop Band, live on Midnight Special. New sub., thumbs up!
Oh nice. I used to see them on TV a lot back in the day. Please give a listen to acapella group Take 6 and their song “Mary Don’t You Weep”.
There’s many reasons to this song be the most played in the 20th century and even today blow our minds… and Vanity Fair described the song as "the most erotic duet between men on record” ❤
The guy with the deep voices name Bill medley the one with the high-pitched voice is Bobby Hatfield
So now you know how a guy is meant to serenade you, how to sing about love.
Some reactions to consider 🤔: Marvin Gaye- Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler), Billie Holiday- Strange Fruit Live 1959 (ReelinInTheYears66 YT channel) or War- Lowrider.
🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️❤️🌷
Bobby Hatfield-Tenor
Bill Medley- Baritone
Story has it that hey got their name from earlier in their career when after a set, someone walked up to Bill and said, "That was righteous brother." Also story has it that Tina Turner was one of the backup singers.
Tina was never their background singer. Cher, however, sang back up on their You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling studio recording.
@Aurora-Sorry. Wrong female singer.
@@89801wink No need to apologize.