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The Tokens

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Tokens were an American doo-wop group from Brooklyn, New York. They began in 1955 at Abraham Lincoln High School under the name Linc-Tones. The first line-up included Neil Sedaka and Hank Medress, and Jay Siegel joined in 1956. Sedaka and Howard Greenfield wrote much of the early material, so that the group was different from the many teenage groups that only did covers. Sedaka left the group in 1958 for a solo career. In 1960 the group got its best-known name and line-up, after the thirteen-year-old Mitch Margo and his brother Phil had joined.

Music and breakthrough

In 1961 the group reached number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 with Tonight I Fell in Love. Then came The Lion Sleeps Tonight on RCA Victor, an adaptation of Mbube by the South African singer Solomon Linda from 1939. The song spent three weeks at number one in the United States, reached number eleven in Britain and, like the first single, went gold. Between 1962 and 1970 nine more songs followed on the Hot 100, such as I Hear Trumpets Blow and Portrait of My Love, always with Siegel on lead. From 1963 they also worked as producers for groups such as The Chiffons and The Happenings, with their own company Bright Tunes.

Influence

The Tokens remained successful in the time of the British Invasion. In 1972 a new recording of The Lion Sleeps Tonight with Robert John reached number three. The rights to the song were later litigated, as was the name of the group. Siegel and the Margo brothers still perform with their own versions.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The Lion Sleeps Tonight and notice the repeating little chorus beneath the lead, the high singing on top and the calm accompaniment. Can you hear how a South African melody is transformed by a doo-wop group?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists