THE TOKENS Hand Signed Autograph 8X10 Photo - MUSIC - THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT

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THE TOKENS
Hand Signed BIG 8X10 Photo . THIS PHOTO IS HAND SIGNED BY ALL 5
THE TOKENS BAND MEMBERS.
%100 Authentic Autographs . ALL 5 Autographs are BOLD & Looks Amazing ! The photo is in Good condition . RARE AUTOGRAPH PHOTO . Will be shipped SUPER FAST to you & will be Well packaged . I will ship to you . The SAME DAY you pay :) YES.... I even ship on Saturday . Payment MUST be made in 3 days or less after this listing ends ! . In the 3 day Period . combined s&h is $ 1 Extra each additional listing . Check out my other Autographs & my Fantastic %100 Feedback :) Ad my STORE to your FAVORITES LIST . I do list new Low priced autographs EVERY DAY ! I will ad my COA Upon Request . Just message me at Checkout . Thank you :) Amanda
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The Tokens
The Tokens in 1967
Background information
Origin
Brooklyn, New York
,
United States
Genres
Doo-wop
,
pop
Years active
1955–1978, 1998-2000
Labels
Warwick
,
RCA Victor
,
Victor Records
,
RCA Camden
,
JVC
,
HMV
,
B.T. Puppy Records
Associated acts
Record Production
The Chiffons
Randy and the Rainbows
The Happenings
Members
Jay Siegel's Tokens: Jay Siegel (lead vocalist)
Bill Reid
Kurt Yahjian
The Margo's Tokens:
Philip Margo
Jay Leslie
Mike Johnson
Noah Margo
Ari Margo
Damien Margo
Past members
Neil Sedaka
Hank Medress
Eddie Rabkin
Cynthia Zolotin
Mitch Margo
Joe Venneri
Brute Force
Jay Traynor
The Tokens were an
American
male
doo-wop
-style
vocal
group
and record production company group from
Brooklyn, New York
. They are known best for their
chart-topping
1961
single
, "
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
".
Career
The group was formed in 1955 at
Brooklyn's Abraham Lincoln High School
, and was known first as The Linc-Tones. Originally featuring members
Neil Sedaka
,
Hank Medress
, Eddie Rabkin, and Cynthia Zolotin, Rabkin was replaced in 1956 by
Jay Siegel
(born in 1939), and the band
recorded
its first single, "While I Dream" that same year. Sedaka and
Howard Greenfield
wrote much of the group's early material; they were unusual among teen vocal groups of the time in that they were not a
cover group
.In 1957, Zolotin left the band, leaving only Siegel and Medress to recruit two additional band members and record the single "Picture in My Wallet" as Darrell & the Oxfords. Briefly recording as The Tokens and Coins, Sedaka left the group in 1958 to launch his solo career. Finally establishing its most famous name and crew, the band became known as the Tokens in 1960 after they recruited the 13-year-old multi-instrumentalist and first tenor
Mitch Margo
and his baritone brother
Philip "Phil" Margo
.
In early 1961, the Tokens released a single for
Warwick Records
titled "Tonight I Fell In Love",
[1]
which scored No. 15 on the
Billboard
Hot 100
chart
and earned the group an opportunity to perform on the television program
American Bandstand
. The popularity that the band garnered as a result of this performance brought it new recording opportunities, culminating in its
cover
of
Solomon Linda
's "
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
" for
RCA Victor Records
.
[1]
It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it remained for three weeks.
[1]
The same track peaked at No. 11 in the
UK Singles Chart
.
[3]
Both "Tonight I Fell in Love" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" sold more than one million copies, and were awarded
gold discs
.
From 1962 to 1970, the group released nine more songs that scored the Top 100. Jay Siegel was the lead vocalist on all the Tokens' hits including "I Hear Trumpets Blow" (1966) and "
Portrait of My Love
" (1967).Beginning in 1963, The Tokens also began serving as
record producers
for other artists, such as
the Chiffons
,
Randy & the Rainbows
and
the Happenings
. Their production company was called "Bright Tunes" and they also created their own record company,
B.T. (Bright Tunes) Puppy Records
. In 1972, Jay Siegel did background vocals for a re-recording of
the Lion Sleeps Tonight
with
Robert John
as the lead vocalist. This version hit No. 3 on the chart, and was awarded a Gold disc.
In 1970, Hank Medress began producing an act for
Bell Records
, Dawn, which featured the former teen-idol
Tony Orlando
.It was as a favor to Medress that Orlando sang lead on the first record, "Candida", which became a Top 3 hit.
In 1973, Medress ended his relationship with the group and Siegel teamed with the Margo Brothers to form the group
Cross Country
, which would have some success with its
cover version
of "
In the Midnight Hour
".The Tokens reunited during 1975 for occasional weeks as singing regulars on the
Adam Wade
hosted game show
Musical Chairs
and in 1978 recorded a song for ABC's
Schoolhouse Rock
: "A Victim of Gravity".
Brothers Mitch and Philip Margo continued to perform with new members Jay Leslie, Mike Johnson, and
Noah Margo
(one of Phil Margo's sons) playing drums. Mitch Margo's sons,
Damien Margo
and Ari Margo, also make occasional guest performances with the band, exemplifying Phil Margo's saying: "If you hang around long enough you can grow your own band".
Siegel continues to perform with his own version of The Tokens as well, featuring bass singer Bill Reid and, more recently,
John "Jay" Traynor
, the original lead singer (before Jay Black) of
Jay & the Americans
and
the Mystics
. Siegel's son is also part of the group as keyboardist and occasional vocalist.
Jay Siegel's Tokens and the Margo brothers reunited in 2000 to perform on the
PBS
special,
Doo Wop 51
. At the time, Siegel's Tokens were Siegel, Reid and
Eddy Rezzonico
,who had replaced
Richie Grasso
during the 1990s.
John "Jay" Traynor died on January 2, 2014 of liver cancer at a hospital in
Tampa, Florida
, aged 70.
Mitch Margo died on November 24, 2017, at
Studio City, California
, aged 70.
[10]
Legal controversies
Rights for "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
Decades after not receiving any publishing credit for their specific original musical composition part of "
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
", the band began a lawsuit in order to regain some of these publishing rights. The case was dismissed due to the
statute of limitations
. To this day, the Tokens claim that some of the original musical composition of the 1961 song was created by them, even though they have not been awarded this status by their record company.
Name of the band
On October 19, 2009, Phil and Mitch Margo filed suit in Manhattan for the rights to the
Tokens
name. They claim in their filing that Henry Medress suggested the name. In a competing suit filed in California by Siegel, he claims Siegel, Medress and Sedaka released an album named
Neil Sedaka and the Tokens
previously.On Sedaka's own website, there is a listing in his discography catalog for a 1958 release of
Neil Sedaka and the Tokens
as well as a second album, also during 1958, named
Neil Sedaka and the Tokens and Coins
. Sedaka and Siegel have remained close friends since Sedaka left the group.
Albums
1961:
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
(No. 54 US)
1962:
We the Tokens Sing Folk
1964:
Wheels
1966:
I Hear Trumpets Blow
(No. 148 US)
1966:
The Tokens Again
1967:
Back to Back
(No. 134 US)
1967:
It's a Happening World
1970:
Greatest Moments [In a Girl's Life]
1971:
Both Sides Now
1971:
December 5
1971:
Intercourse
1973:
Cross Country
[A 1]
1988:
Re-Doo-Wopp
1993:
Oldies Are Now
1994:
Wimoweh!!! The Best of The Tokens
1995:
Merry Merry
1996:
Tonight the Lion Dances
1999:
Unscrewed
Notes
^
Cross Country
was released by three members of the Tokens, using the band name
Cross Country
.
Singles
Year
Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Chart positions
Album
US
CAN
1956
"I Love My Baby"
b/w "While I Dream"
A
—
—
Non-album tracks
1961
"Tonight I Fell in Love"
b/w "I'll Always Love You"
15
—
"When I Go to Sleep at Night"
b/w "Dry Your Eyes" (from
The Tokens Again
)
—
—
Non-album tracks
"
Sincerely
"
b/w "When Summer Is Through"
120
—
"
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
"
B
b/w "Tina"
1
—
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
1962
"B'wa Nina
(Pretty Girl)
"
b/w "Weeping River"
55
—
We the Tokens Sing Folk
"Big Boat"
b/w "The Riddle"
—
—
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
"
La Bamba
"
b/w "A Token of Love" (Non-album track)
85
—
We the Tokens Sing Folk
"Dream Angel Goodnight"
b/w "I'll Do My Crying Tomorrow"
—
—
Non-album tracks
"A Bird Flies Out of Sight"
b/w "Wishing" (Non-album track)
—
—
We the Tokens Sing Folk
1963
"Tonight I Met an Angel"
b/w "Hindi Lullaby" (from
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
)
126
—
Non-album track
"Hear the Bells"
b/w "A-B-C 1-2-3"
94
—
The Tokens Again
"Please Write"
b/w "I'll Always Love You"
108
—
Non-album tracks
1964
"Let's Go to the Drag Strip"
b/w "Two Cars"
—
—
Wheels
"Swing"
b/w "A Girl Named Arlene" (Non-album track)
105
—
I Hear Trumpets Blow
"Remember Last Summer"
b/w "Strange Strange Feeling"
Shown as by The Four Winds
—
—
Non-album tracks
"
He's in Town
"
b/w "Oh Kathy" (from
The Greatest Moments with the Tokens
)
43
20
I Hear Trumpets Blow
"You're My Girl"
b/w "Havin' Fun" (Non-album track)
—
—
The Greatest Moments with the Tokens
1965
"Nobody But You"
b/w "Mr. Cupid (Don't You Call On Me)" (Non-album track)
—
—
"Sylvie Sleepin'"
b/w "A Message to the World" (Non-album track)
—
—
I Hear Trumpets Blow
"Only My Friend"
b/w "Cattle Call"
—
—
Non-album tracks
"
The Bells of St. Mary
"
b/w "
Just One Smile
"
—
—
"
The Three Bells
"
b/w "A Message to the World" (Non-album track)
120
—
I Hear Trumpets Blow
1966
"I Hear Trumpets Blow"
b/w "Don't Cry, Sing Along with the Music"
30
86
"Great Moments in a Girl's Life"
b/w "Breezy" (Non-album track)
102
—
The Greatest Moments with the Tokens
1967
"Green Plant"
b/w "Saloogy" (from
I Hear Trumpets Blow
)
—
—
Non-album track
"
Portrait of My Love
"
b/w "She Comes and Goes"
36
—
Portrait of My Love
"It's a Happening World"
b/w "How Nice"
69
—
"
Ain't That Peculiar
"
b/w "Bye, Bye, Bye" (from
It's a Happening World
)
—
—
Non-album tracks
1968
"
Till
"
b/w "Poor Man" (from
It's a Happening World
)
—
—
"Needles of Evergreen"
b/w "Mister Snail"
—
—
"Animal"
b/w "Bathroom Wall"
—
—
"
The Banana Boat Song
"
b/w "Grandfather" (from
It's a Happening World
)
—
—
"Some People Sleep"
b/w "The World Is Full of Wonderful Things" (Non-album track)
—
—
Both Sides Now
1969
"
Get a Job
"
b/w "Please Say You Want Me"
—
—
Non-album tracks
"
Go Away Little Girl
"/"
Young Girl
"
b/w "I Want to Make Love to You"
118
—
"
End of the World
"
b/w "I Could Be"
—
—
"She Lets Her Hair Down
(Early in the Morning)
"
C
b/w "Oh to Get Away" (Non-album track)
61
43
Both Sides Now
1970
"Let It Ride"
b/w "One Face in the Crowd"
Shown as by The Four Winds
—
—
Non-album tracks
"
Don't Worry Baby
"
b/w "Some People Sleep"
95
67
Both Sides Now
"
Both Sides Now
"
b/w "I Could See Me (Dancin' with You)" (from December 5)
—
—
"Groovin' on the Sunshine"/"Sesame Street"
b/w "Listen to the Words (Listen to the Music)"
—
—
Non-album tracks
1972
"I Like to Throw My Head Back and Sing
(That Good Ole Rock and Roll)
"
b/w "You and Me"
—
—
1973
"
Rock and Roll Music
"
b/w "Just a Thought" (from
Cross Country
)
Shown as by Cross Country
—
—
"
In the Midnight Hour
"
b/w "A Smile Song"
Shown as by Cross Country
30
—
Cross Country
"Tastes So Good to Me"
b/w "A Ball Song"
Shown as by Cross Country
—
—
1974
"Penny Whistle Band"
b/w "Lord Can't Sing a Solo"
—
—
Non-album tracks
1977
"Dear Judy"
b/w "
Come Softly to Me
"
Shown as by The 4 Winds
—
—
1988
"Re-Doo-Wopp"
b/w "I'm Through with You"
—
—
Re-Doo-Wopp
1994
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
(re-release)
51
—
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
(1994 CD reissue)
1996
"Only in My Dreams"
(CD single)
—
—
Tonight, The Lion Dances
"
Save the Last Dance for Me
"
b/w "Suavito"
—
—
A
Peaked at No. 39 on the
WMGM
chart
B
Peaked at No. 7 on US R&B charts and No. 11 on UK chart
C
Peaked at No. 27 on RPM Adult Contemporary chart
Production work
As well as being performing and recording artists The Tokens were also record producers. Here are some of the records they produced:
"
He's So Fine
" by
the Chiffons
"
One Fine Day
" by The Chiffons
"
Denise
" by
Randy & the Rainbows
"
See You In September
" by
the Happenings
"
I Got Rhythm
" by the Happenings
"
Go Away Little Girl
" by the Happenings
"
Candida
" by
Tony Orlando and Dawn
"
Knock Three Times
" by Tony Orlando and Dawn
"
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
" by Tony Orlando and Dawn
Awards and recognition
The Tokens were inducted into the
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
in 2004.
In 1998, The Tokens were mentioned by the
Guinness World Records
, for performing "
The Star-Spangled Banner
" at all 30
Major League Baseball
stadiums in the United States and Canada.
Band members
Classic lineup
Original Tokens
Jay Siegel
– Lead singer
Mitch Margo
Neil Sedaka
Phil Margo
Hank Medress
Joe Venneri
– Guitar
Jay Siegel's Tokens
Current Members
Jay Siegel
(original lead vocalist) - vocals
Bill Reid
Kurt “Frenchy” Yahjian - vocals
Former Members
Jay Traynor
(????-2014; died 2014)
The Margo Brothers' Tokens
Current Members
Phil Margo
– Vocals, Percussion
Jay Leslie
– Vocals, Horns
Mike Johnson – Vocals, Keyboard
Noah Margo
– Drums
Ari Margo – Guest Performer, Vocals
Damien Margo
– Guest Performer, Vocals, Drums
Former members
Mitch Margo
– Lead Vocals, Guitar (died 2017)
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