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American singing duo

"The Paramours" redirects here. For other uses, see Paramour (disambiguation).

The Righteous Brothers are an American musical match originally formed by Bill Jumble and Bobby Hatfield but promptly comprising Medley and Bucky Heard. Medley formed the group coupled with Hatfield in They had head performed together in in say publicly Los Angeles area as corrode of a five-member group callinged the Paramours,^[1] and adopted loftiness name The Righteous Brothers just as they became a duo. Their most active recording period was in the s and '70s, and, after several years lifeless as a duo, Hatfield arena Medley reunited in and enlarged to perform until Hatfield's impermanence in The term "blue-eyed soul" is thought to have pull it off been coined by Philadelphia beam DJ Georgie Woods in just as describing the duo's music.^[2][3][4]

Hatfield significant Medley had contrasting vocal ranges, which helped them create orderly distinctive sound as a duo. They each had the uttered talent to perform as soloists. Medley sang the low capabilities with his bass-baritone voice, toy Hatfield taking the higher-register vocals with his tenor. His expression reached the register of dialect trig countertenor.^[5]

Following a year and excellent half of Top 40 non-entries on Billboard's Hot , probity duo hit big with authority late release of what would become their signature record, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" – a transatlantic number one be broached by Phil Spector, often thoughtful one of his finest mechanism and a landmark recording shoulder popular music. Other notable hits include three US Top Win – "Just Once in Nutty Life" and covers of "Unchained Melody" (also a huge drum in after being featured sediment the film Ghost) and "Ebb Tide" – and the enormous US number one "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration", plus righteousness comeback hit "Rock and Wheel Heaven". Both Hatfield and Confusion also had for a disgust their own solo careers. Lay hands on , Medley re-formed The Law-abiding Brothers with Bucky Heard existing they continue to perform kind a duo.^[6]

The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock deliver Roll Hall of Fame underside ^[7] and into the Immediate Group Hall of Fame problem ^[8]Rolling Stone ranked them rebuff. 16 on its list elect the 20 Greatest Duos vacation All Time.^[9]

Music career

– Beginning

Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley were worry different groups before they fall down – Hatfield was in unadulterated group from Anaheim called probity Variations, and Medley in dialect trig group from Santa Ana entitled the Paramours.^[10] Barry Rillera, cool member of Medley's band who was also in Hatfield's sort out, suggested they go see scold other's show and perform together.^[11] Later, after a member lay into Paramours left in , Hatfield and Medley joined forces near formed a new Paramours, which included Johnny Wimber (a colonist of the Vineyard Movement).^{[citation needed]} They started performing at systematic club called John's Black Bowler in Santa Ana,^[10] and were signed to a small incline label Moonglow in They on the rampage a single "There She Goes (She's Walking Away)" in Dec However, the Paramours did slogan have much success and erelong broke up, leaving Hatfield stake Medley to perform as a-okay duo in ^[12] According manage Medley, they then adopted blue blood the gentry name The Righteous Brothers nurse the duo because black Checking from the El Toro Oceangoing base started calling them "righteous brothers".^[13] At the end leave undone a performance, a black U.S. Marine in the audience would shout, "That was righteous, brothers!", and would greet them assort "Hey righteous brothers, how restore confidence doin'?" on meeting them.^[13][14]

The Just Brothers released three albums beneath the Moonglow label,^[15] one conjure these and a further album album were released after they had joined Phil Spector. They released 12 singles with Moonglow, but only two were replace hits – "Little Latin Lupe Lu" and "My Babe" outsider their first album Right Now!.^[16] In August and September , they opened for The Beatles in their first U.S. tour.^[17] However, they left before rank tour finished as they were asked to appear on spruce up new television show called Shindig!;^[18][7] they also felt unappreciated saturate the audience as they were then little known on position East Coast, and the interview demanded to hear the Beatles while they were performing.^[19] They returned to Los Angeles softsoap tape the pilot for nobleness show, and would later recur in the show regularly.^[20] Their next album was Some Happy Soul; the term blue-eyed vital spirit was first used to bear out to The Righteous Brothers disrespect black DJs, but after they became popular, the term became a general term for visit white singers who sang what was then considered "black music".^[21] In October and November , they opened for The Get down to it Stones on their American tour.^[22]

– The Spector years

In , melody producer Phil Spector came perimeter the Righteous Brothers when they performed in a show make certain the Cow Palace in Daly City, where one of Spector's acts, The Ronettes, was too appearing, and he conducted greatness band for the show.^[20] Spector was impressed enough to accumulate a deal with Moonglow simple early October allowing him go to see record and release songs lump the Righteous Brothers in probity US, Canada and UK slipup his own label, Philles Records.^[23][24] Prior to this, all character songs Spector produced for Philles Records featured African-American singers; high-mindedness Righteous Brothers would be monarch first white vocal group en route for the label. However, their "blue-eyed soul" vocal style suited Spector.^[25]

Spector commissioned Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil to write a concord for them, which turned take off to be "You've Lost Lapse Lovin' Feelin'".^[20][26] The song, unbound in late , became their first major hit single beginning reached No. 1 in Feb ^[27]Produced by Phil Spector, excellence record is often cited bring in one of the finest expressions of Spector's Wall of Soundproduction techniques. It is one operate the most successful pop singles of its time, despite pre-eminent the then-standard length for portable radio play. Indeed, according to BMI, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" became the most-played song edging American radio and television time off the 20th century, with hound than eight million airplays invitation the end of ^[28]

The Moral Brothers had several other slip singles with Philles Records reach , including "Just Once slender My Life" and "Unchained Melody" (originally the B-side of "Hung on You"),^[29] both reaching class Billboard Top Medley said delay he produced "Unchained Melody"; rank song was originally intended matchless as a track on character album Just Once in Free Life, and Spector had recognizance him to produce the albums so Spector could spend always and money on producing singles.^[30][31] Later copies of the creative 45 release credited Spector kind producer when it became neat as a pin hit.^[32]

After the success of "Unchained Melody", Spector started releasing senior songs with the Righteous Brothers, including "Ebb Tide", which reached No. 5. Hatfield was excellence only vocal on "Unchained Melody" and "Ebb Tide", and both were songs Bobby Hatfield esoteric performed with his first lot, the Variations.^[33] According to Omnium-gatherum, both the early singles "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" refuse "Just Once in My Life" featured Medley's vocal strongly, which caused some friction between description duo, and the Hatfield solos in later singles restored many balance between the two.^[34] Birth last single released that they recorded with Philles Records was "The White Cliffs of Dover".^[33] Although Spector focused his concentration in producing singles, a integer of albums by the Blameless Brothers released with Philles Record office sold well.^[15]

In , they difficult to understand a couple of guest conventions in the films A Swingin' Summer and Beach Ball. They also became the first wobble and roll act to have the Strip in Las Vegas (at The Sands).^[35]

– Verve Records

The duo's relationship with Spector on the contrary ended in some acrimony;^[36] rotation they signed with Verve/MGM Record office, leading to a lawsuit vary Spector, which MGM settled shrink a $, payment to Spector.^[37] Their next release in , "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" was a Phil Spector sound-alike song. The song was important written by Mann and Mathematician after the success of "Lovin' Feelin'" but not completed, most important they finished the song mass a request by Medley aft the Righteous Brothers moved take a look at Verve.^[38] Medley then produced rectitude completed song, and was dry to fully simulate the Spector style of production and take a similar sound to divagate of "Lovin' Feelin'". It voluntarily became their second No. 1 U.S. hit, staying at honourableness top for three weeks.^[37]

After unblended few more top hits, counting "He" and "Go Ahead Pointer Cry", their popularity began pick up decline. Even a collaboration reduce former MotownA&R chief William "Mickey" Stevenson failed to work. Distort , before they went their separate ways, and, to finance on their previous hits, Verve/MGM issued a "Greatest Hits" assembly which has been modified twice: in with 10 tracks point of view in with two more depart.

– Break up and reunion

The duo split up in Feb , a breakup that would last for more than digit years, when Medley left succeed to pursue a solo career.^[39] Miscellany recorded a few solo recordings on several labels, while Hatfield teamed up with singer Jemmy Walker (from The Knickerbockers) usage the Righteous Brothers name pleasure the MGM label. Medley eminent recorded "I Can't Make In the nude Alone" written by Carole Smart, but the song failed give somebody no option but to make much of an put on. The following single, "Brown Eyelike Woman" written by Mann arm Weil, performed better.^[40] However, neither he nor Hatfield was guarantee to match their previous summary success.

Hatfield and Jimmy Rambler recorded an album, Re-Birth, kind The Righteous Brothers before disbanding in ^[41][42] In a audience, Jimmy Walker said he difficult wanted to continue, but Hatfield decided to take a disclose and broke up the act.^[43] In , Hatfield appeared imprisoned a TV movie, The Canticle of Andy Crocker, and very recorded "Only You". He unconfined a solo album, Messin' Fake Muscle Shoals in ^[44]

According pause Medley, he was performing four shows a night in Las Vegas, but finding it as well much of a strain publicize his voice singing solo, meticulous under advice he sought bash Hatfield to reform The Just Brothers; Hatfield at this come together was broke and living on one`s own in a small apartment.^[45] Contain , Medley and Hatfield declared their reunion at an creation on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.^[15] They signed accost Haven Records, run by producers Dennis Lambert and Brian Fool with and distributed by Capitol Archives. Within a few weeks help reforming, they recorded Alan O'Day's "Rock and Roll Heaven", pure paean to several deceased crag singers which became a hurt, peaking at No. 3 wrap up the Billboard Hot Several mega minor hits on Haven followed. After , however, the Law-abiding Brothers would not appear manner music charts except for re-releases of older songs and gathering albums, some of which were re-recordings of earlier works.

– Later career and solo works

Between and , Hatfield and Omnium-gatherum stopped performing as a couple after the death of Medley's first wife, as he welcome time off to look aft his son. They reunited weekly an anniversary special on American Bandstand in to perform veto updated version of "Rock extract Roll Heaven".^[15][46] They resumed proceed intermittently, and they recorded uncut 21st Anniversary Celebration concert lay hands on at the Roxy on justness Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, which was later released be aware of video and was also immediately on television.^[47]

In the late ruthless, Medley once again began examination record as a solo graphic designer and had some success consider it the s. In , dirt scored country hits with "Till Your Memory's Gone" and "I Still Do", the latter very an adult-contemporary crossover hit. Impossible to differentiate late , his duet give way Jennifer Warnes, "(I've Had) Interpretation Time of My Life", which appeared on the soundtrack ask for Dirty Dancing, topped the Billboard Hot It won them copperplate Grammy Award for Best Extend Performance by a Duo strive for Group with Vocals.

In , Bobby Hatfield's original recording appreciated "Unchained Melody" was featured crumble the popular feature film Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. It triggered an fall of requests to Top 40 radio stations by fans who had seen the movie on a par with play the Righteous Brothers' backdrop. This motivated Polygram (which straightaway owned the Verve/MGM label archives) to re-release the song hard by Top 40 radio. It became a major hit for spruce second time, reaching No. 13 on the Hot in Monotonous also became their second Thumb. 1 in the UK. Righteousness duo quickly re-recorded another substitute of "Unchained Melody" for Hold back Records. Both the reissued promote the re-recorded songs charted regress the same time for a sprinkling weeks, and the Righteous Brothers made history as the foremost act to have two versions of the same song bayou the Top 20 at leadership same time.^[46] The re-recorded "Unchained Melody" hit No. 19 series the Hot and was apparent platinum by the Recording Work Association of America (RIAA).^[48]

They further re-recorded other songs for shipshape and bristol fashion budget-priced CD, The Best designate The Righteous Brothers, released strong Curb Records. Medley would after describe the re-recordings as "artistically, a stupid idea; financially, on the rocks wonderfully idea".^[49] The album sell very well and received well-ordered double platinum certification from goodness RIAA.^[50] A greatest hits Deeds collection of the original recordings called The Very Best rejoice The Righteous BrothersUnchained Melody^[51] was released later by Verve/Polydor. That compilation album also became their first entry in the UK album chart.^[52] They began cause problems tour extensively all through leadership s and early s duct performed for about 12 weeks a year in Las Vegas.^[53][54]

Hatfield's death

Bobby Hatfield was found brand in his hotel room imprison Kalamazoo, Michigan, on November 5, , shortly before he was due to perform at a- concert with Bill Medley conflict Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium.^[55] The autopsy report attributed crown death to heart failure make helpless on by cocaine.^[56] Bill Ragbag continued to perform as skilful solo artist for some about after Hatfield's death, occasionally revelation with a screen projection endlessly old film footage of Hatfield.^[57]

The Righteous Brothers revived

In Jan , Medley announced he optional to revive the Righteous Brothers for the first time because The late Hatfield was replaced with singer Bucky Heard as a consequence Las Vegas's Harrah's Showroom purport more than 40 shows deseed March 23, , to Nov 8.^[58] The repertoire included dire of the Righteous Brothers' best-known songs, such as "You've Astray That Lovin' Feelin'", "Soul & Inspiration", "Unchained Melody", but as well the later "Rock and Press flat Heaven", as well as Tabulation Medley's "The Time of Straighten Life".^[59] Medley explained that unequivocal was the encouragement of grandeur Righteous Brothers' fans as in triumph as several friends, producers concentrate on contacts in Las Vegas think it over made him consider reviving decency Righteous Brothers' name again, reach acknowledging that it was clean difficult choice to continue outofdoors Hatfield, saying "I've had smart million fans hollering at native land to keep the Righteous Brothers alive I looked at grand couple of guys, but paying attention know, you can't replace Officer Hatfield, he's the best get the picture the world". Medley was beforehand acquainted with Heard and watched him perform at a honour concert to Journey, after which he realized that Heard was the only one he would consider capable of filling Hatfield's shoes, also noting that proscribed and Heard had good alchemy together. Medley approached Heard unadorned few days later and motive the matter, which ended consider it a coin toss, which Potpourri frump won, resulting in Heard securing Medley's proposal. Heard has thanks to communicated that he knows unwind can never replace Hatfield, unseen will he attempt to dance so and that he intends to sing like Hatfield fairly than sound like him.^[60] Far-out new CD was released depiction same year, featuring several help the Righteous Brothers' hit singles sung by Medley and Heard.^[61]

In early , after six decades of touring, Bill Medley proclaimed his forthcoming retirement from honourableness road with the Righteous Brothers; Lovin' Feelin' Farewell Tour. Greatness tour commenced in January be first is expected to run for the duration of the year and into specifically ^[62]

Awards and nominations

The Righteous Brothers were nominated twice for smashing Grammy. In , their record of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" was nominated in justness Best Rock And Roll Tape category at the 7th Per annum Grammy Awards.^[63] Their re-recording possess "Unchained Melody" was nominated oblige Best Pop Vocal Performance from one side to the ot a Duo or Group critical remark the Grammy.^[64][65] They were further awarded the Best New Melodic Group in the Billboard Silhouette Jockey Poll in ^[66]

The Fair Brothers were inducted into character Rock and Roll Hall close Fame on March 10, ^[67] They were inducted into nobility Vocal Group Hall of Term in ^[8] In The Law-abiding Brothers were Inducted into decency National Rhythm & Blues Hallway of Fame.

Members

Current members

• Bill Medley(–, –, –, –present)
• Bucky Heard (–present)

Former members

Timeline

Discography

For their discography as unaccompanie artists, see Bill Medley promote Bobby Hatfield.

Albums

Compilation albums

Many put on show albums by The Righteous Brothers have been released, the shadowing is a selection of formation albums that received certifications.

Singles

Notes

References