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The Tokens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tokens are an American male doo-wop vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are perhaps best-known for their chart-topping 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
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The original version of the group was formed in 1955 at Brooklyn's Lincoln High School. Featuring Neil Sedaka, Hank Medress, Eddie Rabkin, and Cynthia Zolitin, the group was known as the Linc-Tones. After Rabkin was replaced by Jay Siegel in 1956, the Linc-Tones recorded their first single. Two years later, Sedaka and Zolitin left the band; Sedaka would go on to make a name for himself as a popular solo artist, and singer-songwriter, during the 1960s and 1970s. By 1960, the classic group line-up was in place, consisting of Siegel, Medress, and brothers Mitch and Philip Margo. The group renamed itself The Tokens.
In early 1961, The Tokens released a single for Warwick Records entitled "Tonight I Fell In Love," which went to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spurred them to an appearance on American Bandstand. This proved to be a prelude to the unleashing of their signature song for RCA, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (which evolved from a chant titled "Mbube"--written by South African artist Solomon Linda). Jay Siegel's characteristic lead vocals helped the song rise all the way to #1, where it remained for three weeks.
From 1962 to 1970, the group would put nine more songs in the Top 100, including "I Hear Trumpets Blow" and "Portrait of My Love." They also began producing for other artists, such as The Chiffons. In 1973, Siegel teamed with the Margo Brothers to form the group Cross Country; this trio had a minor hit with their cover of "In The Midnight Hour." The Tokens also performed the Schoolhouse Rock! song "A Victim of Gravity".
Today, Mitch and Philip Margo Margo continue to perform with "new" members Jay Leslie, Mike Johnson and Noah Margo on drums (one of Phil's sons). Mitch's sons, Damien and Ari Margo make guest performances from time to time. As Phil Margo says, "If you hang around long enough you can grow your own band."
- (1961) The Lion Sleeps Tonight
- (1962) We, the Tokens, Sing Folk
- (1964) Wheels
- (1966) I Hear Trumpets Blow
- (1966) The Tokens Again
- (1967) Back to Back
- (1971) Both Sides Now
- (1971) December 5th
- (1971) Intercourse
- (1973) Cross Country1
- (1988) Re-Doo-Wopp
- (1993) Oldies Are Now
- (1995) Merry Merry
- (1996) Tonight The Lion Dances
- (1999) Unscrewed
1Cross Country was released by 3 members of The Tokens under the band name Cross Country.
As well as being performing and recording artists The Tokens became very successful record producers. Here are some of the records they produced:
"He’s So Fine" by The Chiffons
"One Fine Day" by The Chiffons
"Denise" by Randy & The Rainbows
"See You In September" by The Happenings
"I Got Rhythm" by The Happenings
"Go Away Little Girl" by The Happenings
"Candida" by Tony Orlando & Dawn
"Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando & Dawn
"Tie A Yellow Ribbon" by Tony Orlando & Dawn
The Tokens were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 1998, The Tokens made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for performing The Star-Spangled Banner at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the United States and Canada.