Bill MedleyBill Medley

By: Cara Slone, Jill By: Cara Slone, Jill Hughes, Keno Hughes, Keno Kenoly, and Brooke Kenoly, and Brooke StuartStuart

The BeginningThe Beginning Bill’s objective in life has Bill’s objective in life has

always been musicalways been music His father led a band and His father led a band and

played sax while his mother played sax while his mother played the piano and sangplayed the piano and sang

He grew up singing in He grew up singing in Presbyterian choirs, Presbyterian choirs, entering in amateur entering in amateur contests, and singing in contests, and singing in high school glee clubshigh school glee clubs

Had no formal musical Had no formal musical education, but didn’t stop education, but didn’t stop him from writing musichim from writing music

11stst exposure was the exposure was the ParamoursParamours

““Unchained Melody” Unchained Melody” Righteous Brothers 1980Righteous Brothers 1980

What happened to What happened to Bill Medley’s Wife???Bill Medley’s Wife???

She was mysteriously She was mysteriously murdered. It is still an murdered. It is still an

unsolved murder!unsolved murder!

Musical InfluencesMusical Influences

Roy HamiltonRoy Hamilton Tony BennettTony Bennett Ray CharlesRay Charles Bobby BlandBobby Bland

Musical CareerMusical Career In 1961 Bill had his own group called “The Paramours”In 1961 Bill had his own group called “The Paramours” Bill was introduced to Bobby Hatfield that same year, who also Bill was introduced to Bobby Hatfield that same year, who also

had his own group.had his own group. After the two of them sang together they decided to combine the After the two of them sang together they decided to combine the

two groups for what would become the Righteous Brotherstwo groups for what would become the Righteous Brothers Bill was the first songwriter for the Righteous Brothers, and he Bill was the first songwriter for the Righteous Brothers, and he

also became their record produceralso became their record producer

Musical CareerMusical Career

In 1968, the duo separated and Bill In 1968, the duo separated and Bill pursued a solo career scoring hits pursued a solo career scoring hits such as Brown Eyed Womansuch as Brown Eyed Woman

Although Bill and Bobby reunited in Although Bill and Bobby reunited in the mid 70’s, they took a five year the mid 70’s, they took a five year break from performingbreak from performing

However, they still did very well However, they still did very well scoring several hit songs in the 80’s scoring several hit songs in the 80’s and 90’sand 90’s

Musical AwardsMusical Awards

2003 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees( The Righteous 2003 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees( The Righteous Brothers.)Brothers.)

Grammy Winning duet with Jennifer Warnes, “ I’ve Had Time Grammy Winning duet with Jennifer Warnes, “ I’ve Had Time of My Life,” Song of the year from the of My Life,” Song of the year from the Dirty Dancing Dirty Dancing soundtracksoundtrack

Oscar Award winner, “I’ve Had Time of My Life,” Best song in Oscar Award winner, “I’ve Had Time of My Life,” Best song in a movie, helping a movie, helping Dirty Dancing Dirty Dancing become most successful become most successful soundtrack since soundtrack since Saturday Night FeverSaturday Night Fever, with over 11 million , with over 11 million Copies.Copies.

Top of the ChartsTop of the Charts

Medley reached the Billboard Top 10, Five times in 15 Medley reached the Billboard Top 10, Five times in 15 monthsmonths

““You’re My Soul and Inspiration and “ I’ve Had Time of My You’re My Soul and Inspiration and “ I’ve Had Time of My Life,” each hit #1Life,” each hit #1

Three different times Medley reach Top 15 in both Pop and Three different times Medley reach Top 15 in both Pop and R&B at the same time with: “Unchained Melody” at #4 in R&B at the same time with: “Unchained Melody” at #4 in pop and #3 in R&B, “You’re My Soul and Inspiration” at #1 pop and #3 in R&B, “You’re My Soul and Inspiration” at #1 in pop and #13 in R&B, and “You’ve Lost That Loving in pop and #13 in R&B, and “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” reaching #1 in pop and #3 in R&BFeeling” reaching #1 in pop and #3 in R&B

Medley In the Publics EyeMedley In the Publics Eye

The Performing Rights Organization BMI has, “You’ve Lost The Performing Rights Organization BMI has, “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”, featured on the That Loving Feeling”, featured on the Top Gun Top Gun soundtrack, soundtrack, with over 8 million recording, making it the most played with over 8 million recording, making it the most played song in American Radio Historysong in American Radio History

AFI’s 100 Years 100 Songs, has “I’ve Had Time of My Life” AFI’s 100 Years 100 Songs, has “I’ve Had Time of My Life” as the 86as the 86thth best song from a motion picture best song from a motion picture

““Unchained Melody, according to an AOL poll, was voted Unchained Melody, according to an AOL poll, was voted the Greatest Love song of all time.the Greatest Love song of all time.

Impact of Music and CultureImpact of Music and Culture

The Righteous Brothers were one of the first to gain play on The Righteous Brothers were one of the first to gain play on both Pop and R&B radio stationsboth Pop and R&B radio stations

Elvis himself frequently covered “You’ve Lost That Loving Elvis himself frequently covered “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and “Unchained Melody”, during his performances Feeling” and “Unchained Melody”, during his performances in the 70’sin the 70’s

Elton John, Sting, Billy Joel, and Steven Tyler have each Elton John, Sting, Billy Joel, and Steven Tyler have each expressed their love and influence for and from Medley and expressed their love and influence for and from Medley and Hatfield’s musicHatfield’s music

The Righteous Brothers were perhaps the first to have their The Righteous Brothers were perhaps the first to have their own style of music, which was “Blue Eyed Soul.”own style of music, which was “Blue Eyed Soul.”

QuestionsQuestions

1.What happened to Bill Medleys wife ?1.What happened to Bill Medleys wife ? A.They are still together. A.They are still together.       B. She left him for another man. B. She left him for another man.       C. She was mysteiously murdered.C. She was mysteiously murdered. 2.Bill Medley was a part of what group? 2.Bill Medley was a part of what group?       A.Diamond Rio. A.Diamond Rio.       B.Righteous Brothers.B.Righteous Brothers.       C.Hatfields. C.Hatfields. 3.Our main reson for choosing Bill Medley is... 3.Our main reson for choosing Bill Medley is...       A."A." Unchained Melody Unchained Melody" from Ghost. " from Ghost.       B."B." Had the Time of My Life Had the Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing." from Dirty Dancing.       C."C." He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" from Rambo3  " from Rambo3 

ResourcesResources

www.righteousbrothers.com/bill.htmwww.righteousbrothers.com/bill.htm www.vh1.com/artists/az/medley-bill/www.vh1.com/artists/az/medley-bill/

bio.jhtmlbio.jhtml http://www.righteousbrothers.com/bio.htmhttp://www.righteousbrothers.com/bio.htm http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/4057/http://www.theiceberg.com/artist/4057/

bill_medley.htmlbill_medley.html www.righteousbrothers.com/interview.htmwww.righteousbrothers.com/interview.htm