Some concert moments embrace feelings deeper than a song. Bill Medley’s musical history with his audience stretches back over five decades, and in that time, they – like him – have endured love, loss, joy and sorrow.
Those emotions were on powerful display Sunday in a poignant and rocking performance by The Righteous Brothers. Medley and Bucky Heard played before a sold-out crowd at The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center.
There were tears of loss during Medley’s heartfelt tribute of “Unchained Melody” to Bobby Hatfield – the original Righteous Brother – who died in 2003. He sang the song as a video and pictures of Hatfield appeared on a screen behind the stage.
There was joy when Medley, 78, twisted and Heard danced the Watusi to “Little Latin Lupe Lu,” the duo’s first hit in 1963.
“Life is good,” Medley said, “I’m 78 and I can still sing ‘Little Latin Lupe Lu.’”
There was a sense of sorrow but also reclamation when Medley sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and dedicated the song to all the veterans in the audience.
And there was love throughout this 90-minute sometimes spiritual gathering. It featured everything from Little Richard’s “Good Golly Miss Molly” to an uplifting gospel number, “In That Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’.”
On this night, Bill Medley and Bucky Heard not only resurrected the past – but also forged a present-day bond between people and music. They did it in eloquent style with an impeccable version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.”
It doesn’t get any better than that classic American song, and watching Medley perform it with his current singing partner, you had a sense that this is an artist who has rediscovered himself.
After Hatfield’s death in 2003, Medley spent nearly a decade away from singing with The Righteous Brothers.
“Bill has been re-energized with Bucky,” Tim Lee, The Righteous Brothers’ musical director and keyboardist, said after the show. Lee has worked with Medley about three decades and said: “Bill took a chance on Bucky and it paid off.
“He didn’t want someone to try and be Bobby Hatfield – he wanted someone to be a Righteous Brother. Bill wanted someone like himself, who would give 110 percent for every show, with humor, style and personality. That’s what Bucky does.”
Heard was able to win over longtime Righteous Brothers’ fans in The Sharon. Medley supplies the deep, bass-baritone voice and Heard fills in with the tenor.
Heard complimented Medley on an early number, “For Once In My Life.” Heard showcased his own dynamic voice with a stirring version of Roy Orbison’s “Crying.”
“Some of you people have been coming to see The Righteous Brothers for 55 years,” Medley said. “Nobody can replace Bobby, but Bucky is a great singer.”
Heard also displayed his vocal chops in joining Medley on “Soul and Inspiration.”
“It’s great to be here in The Villages,” Medley said, adding that they will play two shows here next year. “You’re here and you live here and that makes you Village People. That’s a good group.”
Medley waxed nostalgic about “Unchained Melody.”
“In 1966, on our fourth album, we wanted to do an old Roy Hamilton song, ‘Unchained Melody.’ Bobby and I felt good about it and it became a hit twice – in 1966, and then in the (1990) movie, ‘Ghost.’
“It was the first song to hit the top in the ’60s and the ’90s. Good things like that were always happening for me and Bobby. We went into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the year Bobby died, in 2003.
“I’m going to sing ‘Unchained Melody’ now as you watch the screen, and I do it because it gives me a chance to share some time with Bobby.”
Medley then brought his daughter – McKenna Medley – to center stage as they sang another huge hit from a movie – “The Time of My Life” from “Dirty Dancing.”
“I originally sang this with Jennifer Warnes but tonight I’m going to sing it with my daughter,” Medley said.
McKenna Medley held her own singing with Dad, and later sang a soft, compelling solo to the old Mamas and Papas hit, “California Dreaming.”
Heard then stepped in for a solo of “my favorite Righteous Brothers’ song, ‘Ebb Tide.’” Once again, Heard did justice to the music and the memory.
“That brother can sing,” Medley said after the performance.
The singing duo went back to the ’50s for another R&B chestnut, “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Muddy Waters. This is the kind of song that earned the description “blue-eyed soul” for The Righteous Brothers.
“We were two white guys who sounded black,” Medley said. “We were inspired by the 1950s R&B singers.”
The band also was in vintage form throughout the show. It featured Lee on keyboards; Jess Gopen, drums; Aja Marie Wilson, bass; Larry Hanson, guitar; Andy Ray, trumpet; and Mark Tragesser, saxophone. McKenna Medley and Diane Spann supplied backup vocals.
Put them together with The Righteous Brothers and you have a memorable performance.
“As a kid I loved the song, ‘Lovin’ Feeling,’ but I like it even better now, and seeing them play it live,” said Roger Butterly, a guitarist and senior music producer for Orlando’s Walt Disney World.
His wife, Wendy, was impressed with Medley’s performance and voice.
“He’s a tall drink of water with a great baritone bass. It’s hard to find someone who sings like that,” said Wendy, who was weeping during “Unchained Melody,” as were many others in the audience.
“This is what blue-eyed soul is all about,” said DJ Al Brady, who emceed the show, produced by Rocky Productions. “‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ is the most played song on American radio and tonight you heard why. It’s sad that Bobby Hatfield is gone, but it’s good to see Bill Medley back on stage singing these songs.”
Villager Cathie Short stood in a long line after the concert to get Bill Medley’s autograph.
“He still has that great voice and still sings those great songs that are a part of our lives,” she said.
Villagers Terrie and Frank Savat attended the show with their friends, Rita and Steve Kleiman. The Kleimans used to rent a condo to Medley when he lived in Branson, Mo.
“We got to know Bill, and he’s just a really good guy,” Steve Kleiman said. When Rita Kleiman was seriously ill, Medley took time to talk and encourage her.
“It meant a lot to me but I wasn’t surprised; that’s the kind of person Bill is,” she said.
For Bill Medley, it’s all a part of being a Righteous Brother – and a righteous human being.
Tony Violanti is a veteran journalist and writes for Villages-News.com.
