The
Tokens
It
was hardly extraordinary for a bunch of guys to get together on
a street corner or in a high school bathroom to sing doowop in
the New York City of the late 50's and early 60's. The history
of Brooklyn alone testifies to the remarkable talent that called
one borough a home back in those days. What is extraordinary,
though, is the incredible feat that one of those groups has accomplished.
After having
their music break onto the pop charts for the first time in 1961,
THE TOKENS are back on the charts! With that re-entry comes the
distinction of having the second-longest chart span in the rock
era! Billboard=s archives also show that the South African folk
song "Wimoweh," which inspired the song, "THE LION
SLEEPS TONIGHT", that went to #1 worldwide, first charted
42 2 years earlier! No other title can claim that longevity!
The release
of the Disney motion picture "THE LION KING" prompted
RCA to re-release "THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT" and a CD
featuring a unique compilation of twenty of THE TOKENS' earlier
tunes. It gives their fans a rare opportunity to enjoy many of
the songs THE TOKENS wrote more than 30 years ago.
The style
and sound, of course, is elegantly defined by JAY SIEGEL, whose
tenor lead and trademark falsetto have characterized all THE TOKENS=
music since the group began recording, and continue to do so today
a they perform around the country. While dyed-in-the-wool TOKENS
fans know that Jay had always sung lead on the group's hits and
know that he had a hand in writing many of them, some may not
be aware of the number of hats he wore.
THE TOKENS'
were one of the first independent, not to mention the youngest,
teams to produce recordings for a major label, breaking into the
really big-time in 1962, when they became the first vocal group
to produce a #1 record for another vocal group!. Remember, He's
So Fine by the Chiffons? That was the first of many smash hits
Jay and his group had a hand in producing.
Besides leaving
their imprint on the pop music scene as singers, songwriters,
arrangers, producers, and record executives, they were also successes
as writers, producers and singers of commercials.
THE TOKENS
are here to stay!
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