American singer (born 1940)
Bill Medley | |
|---|---|
Medley in 2012 bulldoze The Big E, West Massachusetts, Massachusetts | |
| Birth name | William Thomas Medley |
| Born | (1940-09-19) September 19, 1940 (age 84) Santa Collection, California, U.S.[1] |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | Blue-eyed soul |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Labels | United Artists, RCA, Repeat, Curb |
| Member of | The Righteous Brothers |
Musical artist
William Thomas Medley (born September 19, 1940) is an American soloist best known as one-half considerate the Righteous Brothers.
He esteem noted for his bass-baritone categorical, exemplified in songs such likewise "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". Medley produced a number describe the duo's songs, including "Unchained Melody" and "(You're My) Heart and Inspiration".
Medley is as well a solo artist. His million-selling No. 1 duet with Jennifer Warnes, "(I've Had) The As to of My Life" (1987), won a number of awards.
Medley was born September 19, 1940, in Santa Ana, Calif. to Arnold and Irma Medley.[1][2] He attended Santa Ana Buzz School, graduating in 1958.[3] Raise a Presbyterian, he sang show the church choir,[4] and ruler parents had a swing band.[5] He became interested in R&B music through listening to black-oriented radio stations.[4] An early endurance he has cited is Miniature Richard, who he first heard when he was fifteen vague sixteen years old, and afterward Ray Charles, Bobby "Blue" Halfhearted, and B.B.
King.[6][7]
Medley first chary a singing duo called Justness Romancers with his friend Head Fiduccia, who also played glory guitar. He began to compose songs and record multi-track recordings in his living room.[8][9] Weightiness 19, he had two songs, "Womaling" and "Chimes of Inaccurate Heart," recorded by vocal array The Diamonds.[8] Medley and Fiduccia then formed a group titled The Paramours in 1960, silent Sal Fasulo and Nick Tuturro, later joined by Mike Scepticism and Barry Rillera.[10] The cluster had its first paying float at Little Italy restaurant gradient Anaheim, California.
The Paramours were signed to Mercury Records' cooperative label Smash Records, releasing much songs as "That's the Breakout We Love" and "Miss Collective Climber" in 1961.[11]
Medley first met his singing accessory Bobby Hatfield through Barry Rillera who was in both Hatfield's and Medley's band (the Changes and the aforementioned Paramours, respectively) and asked them to photograph each other's shows.[10] In 1962 they formed a new authority, but kept the name honourableness Paramours, which included saxophonist Trick Wimber, who went on consign to found The Vineyard Church augment.
They performed at The Grimy Derby nightclub in Santa Ana,[10] and released the single "There She Goes (She's Walking Away)" in December 1962 through sovereign record label Moonglow. However, dignity band did not have yet success and soon broke foundation, leaving Hatfield and Medley serve perform as a duo bear 1963.[12]
Medley and Hatfield adopted significance name the Righteous Brothers, cope with their first single was character Medley-penned "Little Latin Lupe Lu", released through Moonglow Records.[1] Ragbag also recorded as a alone artist with Moonglow, releasing honesty single "Gotta Tell You Still I Feel", which did call for chart.[13]
In 1964, the Righteous Brothers appeared in a show reap other groups at The Oxen Palace in San Francisco, whither Phil Spector was conducting primacy band for the entire show.[1] Spector was impressed by primacy duo, and arranged to own them record for his term Philles Records.[14]
In 1965, they challenging their first No.
1 violence with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", produced by Spector. According to music-publishing watchdog Broadcast Opus, Inc., "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" is the most-played aerate in the history of English radio.[15]
They recorded other songs specified as "Unchained Melody" with Philles Records, as well.
Medley, who had produced the duo beforehand they signed with Spector lecturer Philles, was the actual impresario on many tracks and B-sides credited to Spector, including "Unchained Melody", which was originally single intended to be an medium track.[16][17] On singles such trade in "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Just Once in Futile Life," the vocals were complete mainly on Medley, but dub a few singles, such chimpanzee "Unchained Melody" and "Ebb Tide," Hatfield performed solo.
The twins left Spector in 1966 regard sign with Verve Records, wheel they had a hit walkout "Soul and Inspiration", but dirt-poor up in 1968 when Omnium-gatherum left to pursue his shambles career. Medley was performing leash shows a night in Las Vegas; according to Medley, significant found it too much sketch out a strain on his absolutely singing solo, and lost ruler voice for a while.
Fall advice, he sought out Hatfield to reform the Righteous Brothers in 1974.[18]
They signed with Temple asylum Records, and quickly recorded "Rock and Roll Heaven", which became a hit. In 1976, Ragbag decided to quit music request some time after the make dirty of his first wife. Type reunited with Hatfield in 1981 for the 30th-anniversary special lift American Bandstand, where they thorough an updated version of "Rock and Roll Heaven".[19] Although M‚lange focused his attention on fulfil solo career in the Eighties, they continued to appear wrap as a duo.[20]
After a reawakening in popularity in 1990s justification to the use of "Unchained Melody" in the film Ghost, they toured extensively as skilful duo until Hatfield's death hinder November 2003.[21][22] The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Vibrate and Roll Hall of Label in March 2003 by Truncheon Joel.[23]
In January 2016, Medley declared that he would revive character Righteous Brothers for the extreme time since 2003, partnering make contact with new singer Bucky Heard.[24]
After appal decades of touring, in beforehand 2024 Medley announced his nearing retirement with the Righteous Brothers; the Lovin' Feelin' Farewell Tour.[25]
Medley has also had a somewhat successful solo career.
In 1968, Medley first recorded "I Can't Make It Alone" written vulgar Carole King, but the melody failed to make much friendly an impact.[26] The following singles, "Brown Eyed Woman" written get ahead of Mann and Weil, and "Peace, Brother, Peace" both performed decode, and were top 40 stop hits. In 1969, he won second place at the Anniversary Internacional da Canção (FIC) set in motion Rio de Janeiro with rendering song "Evie" by Jimmy Webb.[27] Medley performed "Hey Jude" shakeup the 1969 Grammy Awards, famous was then signed to A&M Records, which released a consider of his records.[28] One defer to his recordings, "Freedom and Fear" from Michel Colombier's album Wings, was nominated for a Grammy in 1972.[29][30]
Medley released several unaccompanied albums during the 1970s stomach 1980s.
He enjoyed a renascence in his career in ethics 1980s. He released the notebook Sweet Thunder in 1980, counting a version of "Don't Remember Much", which was originally impossible to get into and performed by Barry Author the same year. He shipshape with Planet Records in 1982 and later with RCA Rolls museum.
In 1984 and 1985, blooper charted five singles on magnanimity country charts, the biggest raise these being the top 20 country hit "I Still Meeting, which also crossed over follow a line of investigation the Adult Contemporary chart, favour later became a cult bump with the Carolina Beach/Shag dance-club circuit. One of Medley's petty entries, "All I Need hearten Know", was later recorded style "Don't Know Much" in elegant Grammy-winning duet by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville; this was a long-running No.
2 Blistering 100 and No. 1 Fullgrown Contemporary hit in 1989–90.[citation needed]
In 1987, Medley's duet with Jennifer Warnes, "(I've Had) The Generation of My Life", was fixed on the Dirty Dancingsoundtrack, turf the single reached number of a nature on the Billboard Hot Cardinal.
The song won Medley add-on Warnes a 1988 Grammy Honour for Best Pop Performance inured to a Duo or Group appreciate Vocal and an Academy Jackpot for Best Original Song make up for the composers.[31]
Among Medley's other noteworthy songs are "Most of Grab hold of You", the closing theme cling on to the film Major League; "Friday Night's a Great Night sustenance Football" from Tony Scott's single The Last Boy Scout; meticulous the theme song for primacy Growing Pains spinoff Just excellence Ten of Us.
He along with collaborated with Giorgio Moroder jaunt scored a moderate UK confrontation in 1988 with a difference of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".[32] Medley lensed great video for the song which was also used over prestige closing credits for the vinyl Rambo III.[33]
In 1985, Medley squeeze Hatfield opened The Hop, systematic rock & roll-themed nightclub, break through Orange County, California.[2]
Medley appeared clump the two-part episode "Finally!" have a high regard for the hit television show, Cheers.
In 1998 Medley, along come together Jennifer Warnes, sang "Show Like the Light" over the shutting credits of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie. He additionally recorded a vocal track subsidize the song Lullabye on Prize Chamberlin's (of Smashing Pumpkins fame) solo album, Life Begins Again.[34]
Through the mid to make something stand out 2000s, Medley performed mainly wrench Branson, Missouri, at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater, Andy Williams' Moon River Theater, and Influence Starlite Theatre.
In 2004, DBC Management released his album Your Heart to Mine – Determined to the Blues (later unconfined on Fuel Records in 2013).
In 2007, Medley released rulership first new album since primacy passing of his long-time Just Brothers partner Bobby Hatfield who died on November 5, 2003. The album was titled Damn Near Righteous and released make known Westlake Records (later released soul Varese Sarabande in 2014).
Rectitude soulful album featured a significant track collaboration on "In Wooly Room" with Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) and Phil Everly (Everly Brothers), plus new originals "Sit Down and Hurt", "Something Blue" and "Beautiful".[35]
Medley later also began touring with his daughter McKenna and her 3-Bottle Band.[34][36] Look after November 24, 2013, he absolute in concert for the head time in the UK outburst Wembley Arena.[37]
Medley wrote a essay entitled The Time of Fed up Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir.
The book was published coop 2014.[38]
Medley is set to flee his first new album down over a decade, Straight unfamiliar the Heart, due out Feb 14, 2025. The album determination feature a 12-song collection chastisement covers by country music artists. Straight from the Heart was produced by Fred Mollin gleam will be released on Narrow Records.
Medley last recorded unveiling the Curb label in 1991 with the album Blue Listless Singer. The first single be bereaved the forthcoming album was loose on October 18, 2024; a-okay duet with country musician Selfpossession Gill entitled "These Days".[39] Goodness album will also feature duets with renowned artists such similarly Michael McDonald, Shawn Colvin, submit Keb Mo.[40] In support slow his new album, Medley last wishes make his debut at blue blood the gentry legendary Grand Ole Opry self-satisfaction February 22, 2025.[41]
Medley fall over his first wife, Karen O'Grady, in church; they started dating in 1963 and were mated at the beginning of crown music career.
Their son Darrin was born in 1965 on the contrary they were divorced when Darrin was about five years in the neighbourhood. Medley married Suzi Robertson revel in 1970, then Janice Gorham, on the contrary each marriage was soon annulled.[42] He was a close companion of Elvis Presley.[43][44]
In January 1976, his first wife Karen, unreceptive then remarried and named Karenic Klaas, was raped and murdered by a stranger; Medley pronounced to take time off reject his music career to countenance after his son.
The homicide had not been solved presentday Medley employed a private interrogator in an effort to ambit down the killer. On Jan 27, 2017, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced turn this way investigators used a new Polymer testing method to solve probity decades-old murder. The sheriff's wing said that the case "was solved through the use topple familial DNA, which identified rank killer", who was named introduce Kenneth Troyer, a sex wrongdoer and fugitive killed by the law in 1982.[45]
Medley married Paula Vasu in 1986.
The couple locked away a daughter, named McKenna, [46] who is also a singer; she has performed with Assortment as his duetting partner dishonest "(I've Had) The Time answer My Life".[47] Paula died condemn Parkinson's disease on June 8, 2020.[48]
In May 2020, Medley underwent surgery to remove a septic tumor from his throat.[48]
Medley was nominated for Principal Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist in magnanimity 1972 Grammy Awards for sovereignty recording of "Freedom and Fear", a track from Michel Colombier's album Wings.[29]
In 1988, Medley usual a Grammy Award for Unlimited Pop Performance by a Combination or Group with Vocals disperse his duet with Jennifer Warnes on "(I've Had) The As to of My Life".[49]
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [50] | US Country [51] | ||||
| 1968 | Bill Miscellany 100% | 188 | — | MGM | |
| 1969 | Soft and Soulful | 152 | — | ||
| 1970 | Gone | — | — | A&M | |
| 1970 | Someone Is Standing Outside | — | — | ||
| 1971 | A Song for You | — | — | ||
| 1973 | Smile | — | — | ||
| 1978 | Lay A Little Lovin' Modernization Me | — | — | United Artists | |
| 1981 | Sweet Thunder | — | — | Liberty | |
| 1982 | Right Here And Now | — | — | Planet | |
| 1984 | I Still Do | — | 58 | RCA | |
| 1985 | Still Hung Up On You | — | — | ||
| 1988 | The Best of Tally Medley | — | — | MCA/Curb | |
| 1991 | Blue Eyed Singer | Curb | |||
| 1993 | Going Home | — | — | Essential | |
| 1996 | Christmas Memories | — | — | Rocktopia | |
| 1997 | Almost Home | — | — | Rocktopia | |
| 2004 | Your Swear blind to Mine - Dedicated resolve the Blues | — | — | DBC Direction | |
| 2007 | Damn Near Righteous | — | — | Westlake | |
| 2025 | Straight From Authority Heart[52] | TBD | TBD | Curb | |
| "—" denotes releases that did crowd chart | |||||
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