The Tokens were one of the first independent, not to mention teams to produce recordings for a major lable, breaking into the really big in 1962, when they became the first vocal group to produce a number one record for another vocal group! Remember “He’s So Fine” by “The Chiffons? That was the first of many smash hits Jay and his group had a hand in producing. Some may not be aware of the number of hats he wore. Tokens fans know that Jay Siegel had always sung lead on the group’s hits (including, among many others, “Portrait Of My Love”, “LaBamba”, “B’Wanina”, “He’s In Town”, “She Lets Her Hair Down”, and “I hear Trumpets Blow”), and know that he had a hand in writing them. That style and sound, of course, is elegantly defined by Jay Siegel whose tenor lead and trademark falsetto have characterized all The Tokens music since the group began recording, and continues to do so as they perform around the country. It gives their fans a rare opportunity to enjoy many of the songs The Tokens wrote more than 30 years ago, as well as songs popularized by other artists which The Tokens later recorded in their own distinctive style. The release of the Disney motion picture “The Lion King” prompted RCA to re-release “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and a Compact Disc featuring a unique compilation of The Tokens earlier tunes. It was more than 30 years after the debut of their first big hit, “Tonight I Fell In Love” when they re-emerged on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in August of 1994, following the re-release of their chart topping single, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” With that re-entry comes the distinction of having the second-longest chart span in the rock era! Billboards archives also show that the South African folk song, “Wimoweh,” which inspired the song that went to number one worldwide first charted 42 1/2 years earlier. What is extraordinary,though, is the incredible feat that one of those groups has accomplished.Īfter having their music break onto the pop charts for the first time in 1961, The Tokens have been back on the charts! The history of Brooklyn alone testifies to the remarkable talent that called just that borough “home” back in those days. In New York City during the late 50s and early 60s, it was hardly extraordinary for a bunch of guys to get together on a street corner or in a high school bathroom to sing doo-wop.
Puppy, but weren’t able to keep the hits coming very long, although “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” remains a standard. The Tokens formed their own label in 1964, B.T.
They recorded for Warwick in 1960, then had their one glorious hit in 1962, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” It was based on the South African Zulu song “Wimoweh,” and reached number seven on the R&B chart while topping the pop surveys.
Brothers Phil and Mitch Margo and Jay Siegel were now the members. They later disbanded, but Medress re-formed the group in 1960 as the Tokens. Hank Medress, Neil Sedaka, Eddie Rabkin, and Cynthia Zolitin didn’t have much impact in their early days recording for Melba. This Brooklyn doo wop group was originally known as the Linc-Tones when they formed in 1955 at Lincoln High School.
0 kommentar(er)
