The Righteous Brothers

Born in Orange County, California, around Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield after a shared stint with the Paramours, The Righteous Brothers developed from the early 1960s a vocal duo at the crossroads of pop, soul, and rock, often associated with blue-eyed soul. Their identity rests on the contrast between Medley’s deep voice and Hatfield’s higher register, with arrangements that blend soul intensity, pop songwriting, and orchestral production. After early recordings with Moonglow, The Righteous Brothers took on a new dimension with Phil Spector, who produced notably You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ in 1964, then Just Once in My Life and Unchained Melody in 1965. Having moved to Verve, the duo continued along this line with (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration in 1966. Their discography includes, among others, Right Now! (1963), Some Blue-Eyed Soul (1964), You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (1965), Just Once in My Life... (1965), Soul & Inspiration (1966) and Give It to the People (1974), released after a reunion highlighted by the title Rock and Roll Heaven. Separated several times, The Righteous Brothers continued to exist until Bobby Hatfield’s death in 2003. Since 2016, Bill Medley has relaunched The Righteous Brothers with Bucky Heard, in a stage configuration focused on the duo’s historic repertoire.