Righteous Brothers bring "blue eyed soul" to PTC

BY MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

It was ten years ago this summer that “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers found itself back on top of the U.S. charts.

It was the love song from the hit film “Ghost” and it shot Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, a.k.a. the Righteous Brothers, back into the spotlight.

Their career began in Orange County, a suburb of Los Angeles. The two singers were performing on their own until one night when they sang together. The audience response was terrific and convinced the two to stay together. They quickly developed a stage act, which featured urgent back-and-forth vocal exchanges, and became “brothers.” Medley's soulful, rich timbre was the perfect compliment for the higher pitched, gospel-tinged range of Hatfield.

The Righteous Brothers then joined forces with Phil Spector, the mega-producer who was helping dozens of acts sell millions of records with his “wall of sound” technique. Their songs, “You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling,” “Just Once In My Life,” “Ebb Tide” and “Unchained Melody” made Medley and Hatfield one of the most engaging duos in pop history.

They parted ways in 1968 to embark on solo careers, but joined forces again in 1974. They scored another hit with the song “Rock `n Roll Heaven,” but their reunion was short-lived. The duo reunited several times in the 1980s, most notably in 1982 for their 20th anniversary performance.

Their solo careers found some success. Medley teamed up with Jennifer Warnes for “(I've Had) The Time of My Life” from the “Dirty Dancing” sound track. The song hit number one on the pop charts, but the inclusion of “You've Lost That Loving Feeling” on the Top Gun sound track proved that the Righteous Brothers' star still burned bright.

After the resurgence of “Unchained Melody,” the Righteous Brothers went back into the studio and back on the road. The 1990s have seen a new generation of fans discover the magic of the Righteous Brothers. “Considering how long we've been in the business, this is a real treat,” said Medley. “It is a wonderful thing to happen.”

The Righteous Brothers will play the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3. Tickets are $35 and selling fast. Phone 770-631-0630.

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