

In 1970, Hank Medress began producing an act for Bell Records, Dawn, which featured the former teen-idol Tony Orlando. This version hit #3 on the charts, and was awarded a Gold disc. In 1972, Jay Siegel did background vocals for a re-recording of Lion Sleeps Tonight with Robert John as the lead vocalist. Their production company was called Bright Tunes and they also created their own record company, B.T. Beginning in 1963, The Tokens also began serving as record producers for other artists, such as the Chiffons, Randy & the Rainbows and the Happenings. Jay Siegel was the lead vocalist on all the Tokens' hits including "I Hear Trumpets Blow" (1966) and "Portrait of My Love" (1967). Both "Tonight I Fell in Love" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" sold more than 1 million copies, and were awarded gold discs.įrom 1962 to 1970, the group released nine more songs that scored the Top 100. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it remained for three weeks. The popularity that the band garnered as a result of this performance brought it new recording opportunities, culminating in its cover of Solomon Linda's "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for RCA Victor Records.

15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned the group an opportunity to perform on the television program American Bandstand. In early 1961, the Tokens released a single for Warwick Records titled "Tonight I Fell In Love," which scored No. Finally establishing its most famous name and crew, the band became known as the Tokens in 1960 after they recruited the 13-year-old multi-instrumentalist and first tenor Mitch Margo and his baritone brother Phil Margo. In 1957 Sedaka and Zolotin left the band, leaving only Siegel and Medress, who would recruit two additional band members and record the single "Picture in My Wallet" as Darrell & the Oxfords. Originally featuring members Neil Sedaka, Hank Medress, Eddie Rabkin, and Cynthia Zolotin, Rabkin was replaced by Jay Siegel in 1956, and the band recorded its first single, "While I Dream" that same year. The group was formed in 1955 at Brooklyn's Abraham Lincoln High School, and was known first as The Linc-Tones. They are known best for their chart-topping 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".
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Read Full Bio The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group and record production company group from Brooklyn, New York.

The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group and record production company group from Brooklyn, New York.
