CNN reports that Hank Medress,the founder & lead singer of The Tokens,who were most famous for the early 1960s classic,"The Lion Sleeps Tonight",passed away June 19th at age 68 from lung cancer.
Medress entered pop music in a group with neil Sedaka in 1955 but it was not long after he formed the doo-wop group The Tokens. Basing their classic song on another tune called "Wimoweh" and utilizing Hank's innocent sounding yet incredible falsetto,took the song to #1 at the end of 1961 for 3 weeks.
They had a few more hits and then faded from popularity. Medress & Co. were most recently seen on the popular PBS 1950's & '60s revival concerts.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight was remade by singer Robert John,a top five hit,in the early 1970's and is now,also,most recognized by the younger generation as the song Timon & Pumba sang in Disney's "The Lion King". A fun lighthearted song that will live on,as will Hank's legacy thanks to oldies stations and people who will discover the song in ther future.
Rest and sleep in Peace.
[ June 25, 2007, 15:54: Message edited by: Borderstone ]
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"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm."  - Borderstone
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