Saturday, June 11, 2011

Flashback: Blue Eyed Soul Music, The Righteous Brothers




Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield

"You never close your eyes…"
That simple, six-note opening line from You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' resonates among the most familiar kick-offs in pop music history. It helped create an unexpected legacy. 

 The Righteous Brothers were the musical duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975, and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003. Their emotive vocal stylings were sometimes dubbed "blue-eyed soul".

They adopted their name in 1962 while performing together in the Los Angeles area as part of a five-member group called The Paramours. At the end of one particular performance, a Marine in the audience shouted, "That was righteous, brothers!", prompting the pair to adopt the name when they embarked on a career as a duo.

Their first major hit single was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" which remains the most played song in radio history, estimated to have been broadcast more than eight million times. Cher (of Sonny & Cher fame) was a backup singer on this and other recordings.

The Righteous Brothers had several other hit singles in 1965, including "Unchained Melody" (originally the B-side of "Hung on You".

After a few more top 40 hits, their popularity began to decline.They eventually split up in 1968 for more than six years. In 1974, Medley and Hatfield reunited, performing on the Sonny and Cher Hour.
Their legacy is permanently recognized with their 2003 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Righteous Brothers - You've Lost that Lovin Feelin .mp3
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Righteous Brothers - Soul and Inspiration .mp3
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Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody -BEST Versio .mp3
Found at bee mp3 search engine

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