You know that voice. It’s a deep, rumbling baritone that feels like it’s vibrating right in your chest. When Bill Medley sings the opening line of "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’," time basically stops.
It’s been over sixty years since that song hit the airwaves, and honestly, it’s still everywhere. But there’s a lot people get wrong about Bill Medley and the Righteous Brothers. Most people think they were actual brothers (they weren’t). Some folks in the 60s even thought they were Black because their sound was so steeped in R&B and gospel.
The truth is, Medley and his late partner Bobby Hatfield were just two white kids from Orange County who loved Bobby Bland and Little Richard. They didn't set out to "invent" a genre. They just sang what they felt.
The Birth of the Righteous Brothers
Back in 1962, Bill Medley was part of a group called the Paramours. Bobby Hatfield was in a group called the Variations. Eventually, they joined forces in the Paramours, but the magic didn't really happen until they stripped it down to a duo.
The name "Righteous Brothers" actually came from Black Marines at the El Toro Marine base. Medley has told the story a thousand times: the Marines would come to their shows at John’s Black Derby and call them "righteous brothers" as a compliment. It stuck.
By 1963, they had a regional hit with "Little Latin Lupe Lu," which Medley actually wrote. It’s a garage rock classic now, but at the time, it was just a local smash. They were high-energy, sweaty, and completely different from the polished "boy bands" of the era.
Meeting Phil Spector
Everything changed when they met Phil Spector. He saw them perform at the Cow Palace in San Francisco and realized their voices were the perfect vehicle for his "Wall of Sound."
When they recorded "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’," Medley actually thought the record was a mistake. He was singing so low that he feared people would think the turntable was on the wrong speed. Spector didn't care. He built a massive, swelling orchestral production around them.
The song was nearly four minutes long, which was "radio suicide" in 1964. Most DJs wouldn't touch anything over three minutes. Spector famously lied on the record label, printing a shorter runtime so DJs would play it. It worked.
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The track eventually became the most played song in the history of American radio. Think about that for a second. More than the Beatles. More than Elvis.
The Mystery of "Unchained Melody"
Here’s a fun bit of trivia: Phil Spector didn’t actually produce the version of "Unchained Melody" that everyone knows.
While Spector is credited on the album, he was busy working on other tracks. He basically told Bill Medley to produce the "filler" songs for the B-sides. Medley produced "Unchained Melody" with Bobby Hatfield on solo vocals.
When the song blew up—twice, once in 1965 and again in 1990 after the movie Ghost—Medley found it pretty ironic that their most famous solo vocal performance was the one Spector had almost no hand in.
Bobby Hatfield’s tenor on that track is otherworldly. He hits notes that most men can’t even find in their falsetto. It’s raw, it’s desperate, and it’s why the Bill Medley and the Righteous Brothers legacy is so lopsided in the best way possible. You had the ground-shaking baritone of Medley and the sky-high tenor of Hatfield. It was the perfect vocal sandwich.
Why "Blue-Eyed Soul" Was a Big Deal
The term "blue-eyed soul" was coined by Philadelphia DJ Georgie Woods in 1964 specifically to describe the Righteous Brothers.
It wasn't meant to be an insult or a way to categorize them as "imitators." It was actually a way to tell the audience, "Hey, these guys are white, but they've got the soul."
Medley and Hatfield were among the first white artists to be played on R&B stations. They broke down a massive wall. They showed that soul wasn't about the color of your skin, but the depth of your feeling.
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The Solo Years and the Dirty Dancing Explosion
The duo split in 1968. Medley wanted to go solo, and Hatfield kept the name going for a bit with Jimmy Walker. Neither of them reached the same heights alone. It turns out the world wanted them together.
They eventually reunited in 1974 and had a massive hit with "Rock and Roll Heaven," a tribute to the musicians we'd lost.
But for a whole new generation, Bill Medley is the guy from Dirty Dancing. In 1987, he teamed up with Jennifer Warnes for "(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life."
He almost didn't do it. He thought the title sounded like a song for a "bad porno," and he was busy waiting for his wife to give birth. Luckily, they waited for him. The song won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy.
Suddenly, the baritone from the 60s was the voice of the biggest movie of the 80s.
Losing Bobby and the New Chapter
The music world was crushed in 2003 when Bobby Hatfield was found dead in a hotel room just hours before a show. It was the end of an era. Medley was devastated and honestly thought he’d never perform those songs again.
"No one could ever take Bobby’s place," Medley has said many times.
But the fans didn't want the music to die. After a long hiatus, Medley met a guy named Bucky Heard. He wasn't a Bobby Hatfield impersonator; he was just a phenomenal singer who could hit those "impossible" notes.
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In 2016, Medley decided to bring the Righteous Brothers back to the stage with Heard. They’ve been touring ever since, including a massive residency in Las Vegas at the South Point Hotel.
The Righteous Brothers in 2026
As of early 2026, Bill Medley is still out there doing it. He’s in his mid-80s now, and while he might move a little slower, that voice is still a force of nature.
The "Lovin' Feelin' Farewell Tour" is currently hitting dates across the U.S., from Florida to New Jersey. If you see them live today, you’ll see Medley’s daughter, McKenna Medley, join him for the Dirty Dancing duet. It’s a family affair now.
It’s easy to dismiss "oldies" acts, but there’s something different about this. When you hear these songs, you aren't just hearing pop hits. You’re hearing the foundation of modern soul.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Listeners
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of Bill Medley and the Righteous Brothers, don’t just stick to the Greatest Hits.
- Listen to the Moonglow Records era: Before they were famous, they were raw. Check out "Koko Joe" or "My Babe" to hear them sounding like a garage R&B band.
- Watch the 1960s Shindig! footage: You can find clips of them on YouTube. The energy is insane. They were the "coolest guys in the room" long before it was a cliché.
- Check out Medley’s solo work: His 1968 album 100% is a masterclass in blue-eyed soul production.
- See them live while you can: Medley has hinted that the current tour might be the final curtain call. There is no replacement for hearing that baritone in a live room.
The story of the Righteous Brothers isn't just about two guys who had a few hits. It’s about the moment when white pop and Black soul finally shook hands and changed the radio forever.
Whether it's the heartbreak of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" or the sheer joy of "The Time of My Life," Bill Medley’s voice is woven into the DNA of American music. It’s not just nostalgia; it’s a standard.
To stay updated on the 2026 tour dates or to find the latest remastered collections, keep an eye on the official Righteous Brothers website or major concert platforms like Live Nation. Grab those tickets before the final "Lovin' Feelin'" fades out.