The tokens

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The Tokens are an American doo-wop group.

Career

The group found in 1955 at a high school in the New York district of Brooklyn under the name of The Linc-Tones together. One of the founding members was Neil Sedaka , who left the vocal quartet in 1957 to become successful as a soloist . In 1960 the name The Tokens was finally established.

The big breakthrough came in the same year with The Lion Sleeps Tonight . The song came from the South African composer Solomon Linda (original title: Mbube ) and was previously a hit in the US folk scene. The tokens sang it with a text by the composer George David Weiss . The version, interpreted for the first time by the tokens, has been recorded over 150 times by other groups over the years.

Several smaller hits in the US charts followed by 1970. Then Henry Medress broke up with the other three, who went on together under the name Cross Country . In 1973 they were able to penetrate again into the US Top 40 with the classic In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett .

The band was active and on tour until the new millennium, later again as Tokens . In 2004 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame .

Members

  • Jay Siegel (born October 20, 1939)
  • Mitchell Margo (born May 25, 1947 - November 24, 2017)
  • Philip Margo (born April 1, 1942)
  • Hank Medress (born November 19, 1938 - June 18, 2007)

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US
1966 I Hear Trumpets Blow US148 (2 weeks)
US
1967 Back to Back US134 (6 weeks)
US

More albums

  • 1961: The Lion Sleeps Tonight
  • 1962: We The Tokens Sing Folk
  • 1964: Wheels
  • 1966: Again
  • 1967: It's A Happening World
  • 1970: Both Sides Now
  • 1970: The Greatest Moments With The Tokens
  • 1971: December 5th
  • 1972: Intercourse
  • 1988: Re-Doo-Wopp (feat. Mitch Margo)
  • 1988: Vintage Edition
  • 1993: Oldies Are Now (feat. Mitch Margo)
  • 1996: Tonight, The Lion Dances (Esta Noche, El Leon Baila) (feat.Mitch Margo)

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE UK UK US US
1961 Tonight I Fell In Love
 - - US15 (14 weeks)
US
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Lion Sleeps Tonight 		DE23 (8 weeks)
DE 		UK11 (12 weeks)
UK 		US1
gold
gold

(15 weeks)US
1962 B'wa Nina (Pretty Girl)
We The Tokens Sing Folk 		- - US55 (5 weeks)
US
La Bomba
We The Tokens Sing Folk 		- - US85 (5 weeks)
US
1963 Hear The Bells
Again 		- - US94 (4 weeks)
US
1964 He's In Town
I Hear Trumpets Blow 		- - US43 (8 weeks)
US
1966 I Hear Trumpets Blow
I Hear Trumpets Blow 		- - US30 (8 weeks)
US
1967 Portrait Of My Love
It's A Happening World 		- - US36 (8 weeks)
US
It's A Happening World
It's A Happening World 		- - US69 (4 weeks)
US
1970 She Lets Her Hair Down (Early In The Morning)
Both Sides Now 		- - US61 (7 weeks)
US
Don't Worry Baby
Both Sides Now 		- - US95 (2 weeks)
US
1994 The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)
Oldies Are Now 		- - US51 (13 weeks)
US

literature

  • Jay Warner: The Billboard Book Of American Singing Groups. A History 1940-1990. Billboard Books, New York City 1992, pp. 466-469.

swell

  1. ↑ On this title see Fred Bronson: The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Third revised and expanded edition. Billboard Publications, New York City 1992, p. 102
  2. ↑ a b Chart sources: DE UK US
  3. ↑ Music Sales Awards: US

Web links