On July 20, 1986, partner Les Vogt and I presented Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, The Righteous Brothers, at the Legends of Rock'n'Roll show at EXPO 86. Their music was referred to as "Blue-Eyed Soul" and their worldwide smash ballad "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", produced by Phil Spector, made a huge impact on radio.
We first met at the Cave Theatre Restaurant back in 1962 and again in 1964 when The Righteous Brothers opened for the Beatles at their Vancouver show. Other hits included three 1965 Top Tens - "Just Once in My Life", "Unchained Melody", "Ebb Tide", and the massive 1966 #1 hit "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration", plus the 1974 comeback hit "Rock and Roll Heaven".
My friend John Mackie, writing for the Vancouver Sun, applauded the duo's "solid, well-paced performance" and noted "Medley has to have the deepest voice this side of Gary Puckett, and when he leans into a lyric, he leans into a lyric, goin' way, way deep down blue."
Bobby Hatfield died in 2003 and Bill Medley continued to perform as a solo artist. It was a thrill to have Bill perform at the Red Robinson Show Theatre’s grand opening in 2008 and again in 2010 and 2012. And who else but Bill could wrap up my final CISL radio show in 2017 with his huge hit "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life"?
The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Bill Medley re-formed The Righteous Brothers with Bucky Heard and they continue to perform as a duo. Visit Bill and Bucky at righteousbrothers.com
Coming up: a one-week break for the Legends, and what a surprise, Chuck Berry cancels! Tenth in a series celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Legends of Rock'n'Roll.
30 дек 2023
