Bill Medley

Biography

William Thomas Medley, born on September 19, 1940, in Santa Ana, California, is an American singer and songwriter, widely known as one half of the iconic duo, The Righteous Brothers. Growing up in a musical family, with his father leading a swing band and his mother playing the piano, Medley was exposed to music from an early age, singing in the church choir. His early musical interests were in R&B, influenced by artists like Little Richard and Ray Charles. Before his most famous collaboration, he was part of a group called The Paramours.

The Righteous Brothers

In 1962, Medley teamed up with Bobby Hatfield to form The Righteous Brothers. They were pioneers of a style that came to be known as "blue-eyed soul." Their first hit was "Little Latin Lupe Lu" in 1963. Their breakthrough came when they partnered with producer Phil Spector, resulting in the monumental 1964 hit, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," which became one of the most played songs in radio history. The duo followed up with other major hits including "Unchained Melody" and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration". Medley's deep, resonant baritone voice was a signature of the duo's sound. The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003. The original duo's journey ended with Hatfield's death in November 2003. In 2016, Medley reformed The Righteous Brothers with singer Bucky Heard.

Solo Career and Notable Collaborations

Medley also pursued a solo career. He left The Righteous Brothers in 1968 to go solo, achieving hits with "Brown Eyed Woman" and "Peace, Brother, Peace". He reunited with Hatfield in 1974. A significant highlight of his solo work came in 1987 with the duet "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" with Jennifer Warnes, featured in the movie "Dirty Dancing." The song was a massive international hit and won a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe. Throughout the 1980s, Medley also had success in the country music genre, with several songs charting.

Personal Life

Bill Medley married his first wife, Karen O'Grady, in 1964, and they had a son, Darrin. They divorced after a few years. In 1976, his ex-wife Karen was tragically murdered, an event that led Medley to take a break from his music career to care for his son. The case was solved decades later in 2017 through DNA evidence. Medley married Paula Vasu in 1986, and they had a daughter, McKenna, who is also a singer. Paula passed away in 2020 after a battle with Parkinson's disease. In May 2020, Medley underwent successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his throat.