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On this day, November 19, 1938, Hank Medress of the Tokens was born.
Hat tip, This Day in Music
What Happened Today In Music
November 19th
1938 - Hank Medress
Hank Medress, from American male doo-wop-style vocal group The Tokens who had the 1961 US No.1 & UK No.11 single with its cover of Solomon Linda's 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. He died from lung cancer on 25th June 2007 aged 68.
November 19th
1938 - Hank Medress
Hank Medress, from American male doo-wop-style vocal group The Tokens who had the 1961 US No.1 & UK No.11 single with its cover of Solomon Linda's 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. He died from lung cancer on 25th June 2007 aged 68.
Hank Medress
Hank Medress
Birth name: Henry Medress
Born: November 19, 1938
Died: June 18, 2007 (aged 68)
Occupation(s): Singer, record producer
Henry "Hank" Medress (November 19, 1938 – June 18, 2007) was an American singer and record producer, best known for his taking part in the American band The Tokens.
{snip}
Biography
Medress was born in Brooklyn, New York City, where he attended "Abraham Lincoln" High School. In 1955 he joined a doo-wop group called the Linc-Tones, from the surname of that President of the United States, which also included at first Neil Sedaka. After Sedaka's departure, the group reformed with additional singers as The Tokens in 1958, after several changes of name. The Tokens achieved a #1 chart success in 1961 with their arrangement of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", a sort of remake of the 1939 song "Mbube" by South African singer Solomon Linda, as well as other minor hits. Medress and the Tokens also produced hits for The Chiffons, such as "He's So Fine".
After leaving the Tokens, Medress co-produced (with Dave Appell) many of Tony Orlando and Dawn's hits as well as Melissa Manchester's LP. Later, he worked with Frankie Valli, David Johansen, Rick Springfield, Dan Hill, and Richard Simmons. He was also president of EMI Music Publishing Canada from 1990 to 1992. Medress produced the Dan Hill song, "Never Thought (That I Could Love)" in 1987, which was a #43 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a #2 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
After returning to New York, Medress became a partner in Bottom Line Records, which released recordings of performances at The Bottom Line club in Greenwich Village, as well as new work by emerging artists. In recent years, Medress had worked as a consultant for SoundExchange, an agency that collects royalties from digital broadcasters, like satellite and Internet radio.
Death
Medress died of lung cancer at his Manhattan home on June 18, 2007, aged 68.
{snip}
Hank Medress
Birth name: Henry Medress
Born: November 19, 1938
Died: June 18, 2007 (aged 68)
Occupation(s): Singer, record producer
Henry "Hank" Medress (November 19, 1938 – June 18, 2007) was an American singer and record producer, best known for his taking part in the American band The Tokens.
{snip}
Biography
Medress was born in Brooklyn, New York City, where he attended "Abraham Lincoln" High School. In 1955 he joined a doo-wop group called the Linc-Tones, from the surname of that President of the United States, which also included at first Neil Sedaka. After Sedaka's departure, the group reformed with additional singers as The Tokens in 1958, after several changes of name. The Tokens achieved a #1 chart success in 1961 with their arrangement of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", a sort of remake of the 1939 song "Mbube" by South African singer Solomon Linda, as well as other minor hits. Medress and the Tokens also produced hits for The Chiffons, such as "He's So Fine".
After leaving the Tokens, Medress co-produced (with Dave Appell) many of Tony Orlando and Dawn's hits as well as Melissa Manchester's LP. Later, he worked with Frankie Valli, David Johansen, Rick Springfield, Dan Hill, and Richard Simmons. He was also president of EMI Music Publishing Canada from 1990 to 1992. Medress produced the Dan Hill song, "Never Thought (That I Could Love)" in 1987, which was a #43 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a #2 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
After returning to New York, Medress became a partner in Bottom Line Records, which released recordings of performances at The Bottom Line club in Greenwich Village, as well as new work by emerging artists. In recent years, Medress had worked as a consultant for SoundExchange, an agency that collects royalties from digital broadcasters, like satellite and Internet radio.
Death
Medress died of lung cancer at his Manhattan home on June 18, 2007, aged 68.
{snip}
He was a member of the production crew of this gem:
The Chiffons He's So Fine
mark putt
962 subscribers
2,286 views Apr 13, 2022
1963 Laurie Records
Written by - Ronnie Mack
Produced by - Phil Margo, Mitch Margo, Jay Siegal, & Hank Medress
mark putt
962 subscribers
2,286 views Apr 13, 2022
1963 Laurie Records
Written by - Ronnie Mack
Produced by - Phil Margo, Mitch Margo, Jay Siegal, & Hank Medress
It takes a while, but The Tokens eventually show up, at about 0:50. Edited: Well, no, they don't. I'll see what I can find.
♫ The Tokens ♪ The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Very Rare Italian TV Show 1963) ♫ Video & Audio Restored HD
Tele Ricordi (La TiVù che non c'è più)
223K subscribers
141,750 views Nov 24, 2010
Tele Ricordi (La TiVù che non c'è più) è il canale di flaniman
Tele Ricordi (La TiVù che non c'è più)
223K subscribers
141,750 views Nov 24, 2010
Tele Ricordi (La TiVù che non c'è più) è il canale di flaniman
Sun Nov 19, 2023: On this day, November 19, 1938, Hank Medress of the Tokens was born.
Sat Nov 19, 2022: On this day, November 19, 1938, Hank Medress of the Tokens was born.