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the righteous brothers

The Righteous BrothersThe Righteous Brothers

The Righteous Brothers were:

Bill Medley (b. 19th September 1940, Santa Ana, California, U.S.A.)

and

Bobby Hatfield (b. 10th August 1940, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, U.S.A. d. 6th November 2003, Kalamazoo, Western Michigan, U.S.A.

The Righteous Brothers name implied that they were actual brothers, however, they were unrelated.

They met in 1962 at California's Black Derby club, a place that was frequented mainly by Black folks, who gave the pair a musical 'vote of confidence'.

The pair performed with the local groups the Paramours and the Variations and even kept the Paramours name for their first single.

It was in 1963 that the duo performed under the title of 'the Righteous Brothers'.

They achieved national fame in 1964 following several appearances on U.S. television's highly popular 'Shindig'.

Phil Spector phil spector

They were later to be signed by the legendary producer Phil Spector, leading to 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' becoming a huge hit all around the World.

The duo had three more hits in 1965, on Spector's Philles label, which were 'Just Once in My Life', 'Unchained Melody,' and 'Ebb Tide'.

The Righteous Brothers then left Spector's wing in 1966, and were awarded a gold disc for '(You're My) Soul And Inspiration'.

They went their seperate ways in 1968, with Bobby retaining the name with new partner Jimmy Walker.

That pairing then went their seperate ways and Bobby and Bill became an item again.

They scored a U.S. Top 3 hit in 1974 with 'Rock'n' Roll Heaven', a tribute to passed Rock Stars and toured the circuits throughout the 1980's and 90's.

Ironically, Bobby Hatfield died of undetermined causes at a hotel in 2003. He was 63.

Bobby's body was discovered in his bed half-an-hour before he and Bill were to perform at Miller Auditorium on the Western Michigan University campus.

Manager David Cohen said, 'It's a shock, a real shock'.

Real Player

Albums:

The Righteous Brothers - Right Now! (Moonglow 1963)

Some Blue-Eyed Soul (Moonglow 1965)

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (Philles 1965)

Just Once In My Life (Philles 1965)

Back To Back (Philles 1965)

This Is New! (Moonglow 1965)

In Action (Sue 1966)

Soul And Inspiration (Verve 1966)

Go Ahead And Cry (Verve 1966)

Sayin' Somethin' (Verve 1967)

Souled Out (Verve 1967)

Standards (Verve 1967)

One For The Road (Verve 1968)

Rebirth (Verve 1970)

Give It To The People (Haven 1974)

The Sons Of Mrs Righteous (Haven 1975)

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