Singers: The Righteous Brothers

The story goes that one night as Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield sang as part of a group called the Paramours, an African-American in the audience shouted, “That’s righteous, brothers!” You believe that? I don’t know. But if it’s not true, it makes a good story, so it’s “virtually” true.

The guys owed a lot of their success to the great producer/murderer Phil Spector. His famous “wall of sound” production technique helped propel their first mega-hits to the top of the charts. Medley was a quick learner, and after the Brothers split from Spector’s Phillies label, he copied the “wall of sound” for their recordings on the Verve/MGM label.

The Righteous Brothers biggest hits:

• “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” (#1, 1964 – Great American Things, June 16, 2010)
• “Just Once in My Life” (#9, 1965)
• “Unchained Melody” (#4, 1965)
• “Ebb Tide” (#5, 1965)
• “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” (#1, 1966)
• “Rock and Roll Heaven” (#3, 1974)

According to BMI, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” is the most-played song in radio history. The Righteous Brothers joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrK5u5W8afc&playnext=1&list=PL046816B1766974EA]