THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT

[Golddollar]

I just got back from the Do-Wop Cavalcade at the American Music Theater in Lancaster. They brought back a bunch of the old time rock and roll performers to do a bunch of their old hits. The groups were the Classics, the Elegants, the Duprees and the Tokens, with the headliner being the Brooklyn Bridge. For me, my favorite song was "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens. I saw them perform something like 30 years ago at the Weinberg Center in Frederick, MD and their lead singer, Jay Siegel can still hit the high notes. But one thing for sure, the performers looked like they were having a ball.

Jay Siegel told a cute story about how when the movie "The Lion King" was put out the record company re-released "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" after 40 years. His granddaughter heard it on the radio at school and told everybody that was her grandpa singing, and of course, nobody believed her. So her mother and grandmother called the school, and Siegel ended up being an exhibit for "show and tell" for his granddaughter's class.

I just wish I could be on stage with these old time performers.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NavvTqVusAk[/ame]

 

[jscheck]

Amazing he can still carry those notes!

 

[llowry61]

Amazing he could ever hit them, but to continue to do so effortlessly is beyond comprehension.

His voice is almost like a wind instrument.

 

[wood714]

I saw that video on YouTube a few years ago, always thought there had to be a back up track playing while they did it. Or flat out lip syncing.

Always thought the blonde back up singer was most cute.

 

[S&W Fan]

I was born in 1956 but have the advantage of having a considerably older sister (the oldest) and brother (an amazing natural guitarist) that exposed me to lots of great music as a little kid. This song was always one of my favorites, I had never thought to search for any videos of it so I thank you very much for posting that, it was awesome.

 

[Golddollar]

I was born in 1956 but have the advantage of having a considerably older sister (the oldest) and brother (an amazing natural guitarist) that exposed me to lots of great music as a little kid. This song was always one of my favorites, I had never thought to search for any videos of it so I thank you very much for posting that, it was awesome.

You're welcome. I had a similar life situation. I was the oldest child in my immediate family but my dad had siblings who were considerably younger than him, so whenever we went to visit my paternal grandparents my young aunt and uncles would be playing the old rock and roll records.

I try to go to these concerts now because I never got to see Elvis, Roy Orbison, Little Richard, Marty Robbins or Jerry Lee Lewis perform live. When I lived outside Philadelphia I got to see a lot of concerts.

 

[Jebus35745]

Sounds like a good time, all the great older memories. Missed your stuffed mushrooms Saturday at the NE Ohio Bunch. Larry

 

[Greyman50]

Brings back many many good old memories, thanks for posting. Will be 74 soon and remember all or most of the good old groups.

 

[robvious]

my wife has a college friend that married a gentleman pastor, that can hit those notes as well.. one evening at a karaoke bar, after a few sips of encouragement, I was talked into being an aweem-o-wep backup singer... I am sooooo glad this was before cell phone cameras... he sang beautifully, no such claim on my part... my excuse, I wasn't in the shower. On a side note, we are heading to visit them in about a month for our 30th... we won't be reenacting that episode of our life...

 

[WR Moore]

I recall a story that went around back then about how some famous composer-they had the name, but don't recall it-heard the song while in Africa. He promptly stole what was apparently a traditional song over there. Expect the lyrics might not be original, but the other vocals are at least good approximations.

 

[oldbrownhat]

I can't resist...

There's a male voice choir in Vancouver BC called Chor Leoni ("Choir of Lions") and naturally this is in their repertoire.

Edited to add: Darn- now that's stuck in my head. I'll be singing it all the way to my opthalmologist's office this morning.

 

[jeffrefrig]

That IS pretty good for an older vocalist. Heck, back in the '70s when they were all fairly young, I saw Aerosmith. Even back then Steven Tyler couldn't hit the "Dream on" high notes. I do understand he liked to over-indulge in certain things (he can't even sing now because of the damage from whatever to his whatever in his voice parts of his throat), so the Tokens must have taken care of themselves well.

 

[Rule3]

The history of the song


The Story of Solomon Linda & The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)

 

[WardenRoss]

I caught the Truist Park organ player at the Braves vs Blue Jays game yesterday playing this song each time Leo Jimenez stepped up to bat.

I was laughing out loud and I think I was the only one that "got it."

,

 

[Rudi]

A big blast from the past!

 

[Golddollar]

I can't resist...

There's a male voice choir in Vancouver BC called Chor Leoni ("Choir of Lions") and naturally this is in their repertoire.

Edited to add: Darn- now that's stuck in my head. I'll be singing it all the way to my opthalmologist's office this morning.

That is so funny!

 

[SMSgt]

You're welcome. I had a similar life situation. I was the oldest child in my immediate family but my dad had siblings who were considerably younger than him, so whenever we went to visit my paternal grandparents my young aunt and uncles would be playing the old rock and roll records.

I try to go to these concerts now because I never got to see Elvis, Roy Orbison, Little Richard, Marty Robbins or Jerry Lee Lewis perform live. When I lived outside Philadelphia I got to see a lot of concerts.

I'm not much for live music as it always seems less than the studio recording you hear on the radio. But I did see Elvis in around 1975 in Macon, GA, and even though he was a bit plump and aging, he still knocked it out of the park. My wife made me see Neil Diamond twice. The first time he was okay, but the second time his voice was going. He should have retired while he still had it.

But the one who wiped the floor with all the others was Tina Turner in 1997. Needless to say, the crowd went wild!

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I am somewhat a Tokens fan, but more for real doo-wop, such as Tonight I Fell in Love.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRe753rvhpc[/ame]