Robert Lee Hatfield (August 10, 1940 – November 5, 2003) was an American singer. He and Bill Medley were the Righteous Brothers. He sang the tenor part for the duo, and sang solo on the group's 1965 recording of "Unchained Melody".
Born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Hatfield moved with his family to Anaheim, California, when he was four. He attended Anaheim High School, where he played football and baseball, and was co-captain of the basketball team. He was student body president in the 1957–1958 school year, graduating in 1958.[2] He briefly considered signing as a professional ballplayer, but his passion for music led him to pursue a singing career while still attending high school. He attended Fullerton College.[3] He eventually encountered his singing partner, Bill Medley, while attending California State University, Long Beach. Hatfield is an alumnus of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[4]
Career
Bobby Hatfield initially was in a group from Anaheim called the Variations.[5] In 1962, Hatfield joined with Medley who was in a group called the Paramours, and formed a five-member group using the same name: Paramours.[6] They first performed at a club called John's Black Derby in Santa Ana.[7] Later they performed as a duo and named their singing act The Righteous Brothers. They were often told they sounded like African-American gospel singers and chose the name after black Marines remarked of their singing, "that's righteous, brothers" and called them "righteous brothers".[6][8] Their first charted single as the Righteous Brothers was "Little Latin Lupe Lu" released under the label Moonglow Records, and they appeared regularly on the television show Shindig![1] Hatfield also recorded as solo artist with Moonglow and released an uncharted single, "Hot Tamales"/"I Need a Girl".[9]
In 1964, they appeared in a show at the Cow Palace near San Francisco and met the music producer Phil Spector, whose group The Ronettes was also in the show.[1] Spector was impressed and signed them to his own label Philles Records. Their first No. 1 was "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," produced by Phil Spector in 1964. Follow-up hits included "Unchained Melody," which was actually a Hatfield solo performance. After the success of "Unchained Melody", Spector then started recording older standards with the Righteous Brothers such as "Ebb Tide",[10] which Hatfield also performed solo, and it reached the Top 5. Both "Unchained Melody" and "Ebb Tide" were songs he had performed with his first group, the Variations.[11] Another two of the last songs the duo recorded with Philles Records, "The White Cliffs of Dover" and "For Sentimental Reasons", were performed solo by Hatfield.[12]
In 1966, the Righteous Brothers left Spector and signed with Verve/MGM Records, and had a hit with "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration". However the duo broke up in 1968, and Hatfield teamed with singer Jimmy Walker (from The Knickerbockers) using the Righteous Brothers name on the MGM label.[13] The new partnership released an album but did not have much success. Hatfield recorded a number of singles as a solo artist, such as the self-penned "Hang Ups" and covers of older songs, but "Only You" was his only charted single, peaking at No. 95.[14] In 1969, Hatfield also appeared in the TV movie The Ballad of Andy Crocker.[15] In 1971, he released a solo album, Messin' in Muscle Shoals, recorded at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals in August 1970.[16][17] However, MGM was in financial trouble, a scheduled single "The Promised Land"/"Woman You Got No Soul" was not released, and with little promotion the album largely went unnoticed.[14]
Hatfield and Medley reunited in 1974, and had another hit, the No. 3 "Rock and Roll Heaven." A hiatus followed between 1976 and 1981 when Medley retired from music after his ex-wife died, but they reunited for an anniversary special on American Bandstand in 1981 to perform an updated version of "Rock and Roll Heaven".[18] In 1990, after the success of the 1990 film Ghost where "Unchained Melody" was used, Hatfield re-recorded "Unchained Melody", and Hatfield remarked to friends that he had not lost any of the high notes in his tenor range since the original recording, but had actually gained one note. The duo then toured extensively all through the 1990s and early 2000s.[19] The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003 by Billy Joel.[20]
Personal life
Hatfield had a short marriage with Joy Ciro, who appeared as a dancer on the T.A.M.I. Show and Where the Action Is. They had two children, Bobby, Jr. and Kalin. Hatfield married Linda Torrison[21] on August 4, 1979, and they remained married until his death. Linda suffered from lupus, and Hatfield set up an annual golf tournament, the Bobby Hatfield Charity Golf Classic, to raise funds for charities for the disease.[22] The couple had two children, Vallyn and Dustin.[23]
Death
Hatfield died at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on November 5, 2003. He was found by Bill Medley and the Righteous Brothers' road manager Dusty Hanvey. A security guard let them into Hatfield's room after he had failed to show up at the concert venue when expected. He apparently died in his sleep, hours before a scheduled Righteous Brothers concert. In January 2004, a toxicology report concluded that cocaine use had precipitated a fatal heart attack.[24] The initial autopsy found that Hatfield had advanced coronary disease. The medical examiner stated that "in this case, there was already a significant amount of blockage in the coronary arteries."[24]
Discography
This is Hatfield's discography as a solo artist. See The Righteous Brothers for his discography as part of the duo.
^"Obituary of Linda Jean Hatfield (May 18, 1951 - May 8, 2010)". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^. The Righteous Brothers. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015.
^Chris Epting, Jim Kaa, Jim Washburn, Barry Rillera, Jordan West (November 18, 2014). Rock 'n' Roll in Orange County: Music, Madness and Memories. History Press (SC). p. 125. ISBN978-1626196094.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
^ abCocaine caused death of Bobby Hatfield Associated Press. The Argus-Press – January 6, 2004
bobby, hatfield, robert, hatfield, august, 1940, november, 2003, american, singer, bill, medley, were, righteous, brothers, sang, tenor, part, sang, solo, group, 1965, recording, unchained, melody, background, informationbirth, namerobert, hatfieldborn, 1940, . Robert Lee Hatfield August 10 1940 November 5 2003 was an American singer He and Bill Medley were the Righteous Brothers He sang the tenor part for the duo and sang solo on the group s 1965 recording of Unchained Melody Bobby HatfieldBackground informationBirth nameRobert Lee HatfieldBorn 1940 08 10 August 10 1940Beaver Dam Wisconsin U S 1 DiedNovember 5 2003 2003 11 05 aged 63 Kalamazoo Michigan U S GenresBlue eyed soulOccupation s Singer songwriterInstrument s VocalsYears active1961 2003 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Discography 5 1 Albums 5 2 Singles 6 Bibliography 7 External linksEarly life EditBorn in Beaver Dam Wisconsin Hatfield moved with his family to Anaheim California when he was four He attended Anaheim High School where he played football and baseball and was co captain of the basketball team He was student body president in the 1957 1958 school year graduating in 1958 2 He briefly considered signing as a professional ballplayer but his passion for music led him to pursue a singing career while still attending high school He attended Fullerton College 3 He eventually encountered his singing partner Bill Medley while attending California State University Long Beach Hatfield is an alumnus of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity 4 Career EditBobby Hatfield initially was in a group from Anaheim called the Variations 5 In 1962 Hatfield joined with Medley who was in a group called the Paramours and formed a five member group using the same name Paramours 6 They first performed at a club called John s Black Derby in Santa Ana 7 Later they performed as a duo and named their singing act The Righteous Brothers They were often told they sounded like African American gospel singers and chose the name after black Marines remarked of their singing that s righteous brothers and called them righteous brothers 6 8 Their first charted single as the Righteous Brothers was Little Latin Lupe Lu released under the label Moonglow Records and they appeared regularly on the television show Shindig 1 Hatfield also recorded as solo artist with Moonglow and released an uncharted single Hot Tamales I Need a Girl 9 In 1964 they appeared in a show at the Cow Palace near San Francisco and met the music producer Phil Spector whose group The Ronettes was also in the show 1 Spector was impressed and signed them to his own label Philles Records Their first No 1 was You ve Lost That Lovin Feelin produced by Phil Spector in 1964 Follow up hits included Unchained Melody which was actually a Hatfield solo performance After the success of Unchained Melody Spector then started recording older standards with the Righteous Brothers such as Ebb Tide 10 which Hatfield also performed solo and it reached the Top 5 Both Unchained Melody and Ebb Tide were songs he had performed with his first group the Variations 11 Another two of the last songs the duo recorded with Philles Records The White Cliffs of Dover and For Sentimental Reasons were performed solo by Hatfield 12 In 1966 the Righteous Brothers left Spector and signed with Verve MGM Records and had a hit with You re My Soul and Inspiration However the duo broke up in 1968 and Hatfield teamed with singer Jimmy Walker from The Knickerbockers using the Righteous Brothers name on the MGM label 13 The new partnership released an album but did not have much success Hatfield recorded a number of singles as a solo artist such as the self penned Hang Ups and covers of older songs but Only You was his only charted single peaking at No 95 14 In 1969 Hatfield also appeared in the TV movie The Ballad of Andy Crocker 15 In 1971 he released a solo album Messin in Muscle Shoals recorded at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals in August 1970 16 17 However MGM was in financial trouble a scheduled single The Promised Land Woman You Got No Soul was not released and with little promotion the album largely went unnoticed 14 Hatfield and Medley reunited in 1974 and had another hit the No 3 Rock and Roll Heaven A hiatus followed between 1976 and 1981 when Medley retired from music after his ex wife died but they reunited for an anniversary special on American Bandstand in 1981 to perform an updated version of Rock and Roll Heaven 18 In 1990 after the success of the 1990 film Ghost where Unchained Melody was used Hatfield re recorded Unchained Melody and Hatfield remarked to friends that he had not lost any of the high notes in his tenor range since the original recording but had actually gained one note The duo then toured extensively all through the 1990s and early 2000s 19 The Righteous Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003 by Billy Joel 20 Personal life EditHatfield had a short marriage with Joy Ciro who appeared as a dancer on the T A M I Show and Where the Action Is They had two children Bobby Jr and Kalin Hatfield married Linda Torrison 21 on August 4 1979 and they remained married until his death Linda suffered from lupus and Hatfield set up an annual golf tournament the Bobby Hatfield Charity Golf Classic to raise funds for charities for the disease 22 The couple had two children Vallyn and Dustin 23 Death EditHatfield died at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo Michigan on November 5 2003 He was found by Bill Medley and the Righteous Brothers road manager Dusty Hanvey A security guard let them into Hatfield s room after he had failed to show up at the concert venue when expected He apparently died in his sleep hours before a scheduled Righteous Brothers concert In January 2004 a toxicology report concluded that cocaine use had precipitated a fatal heart attack 24 The initial autopsy found that Hatfield had advanced coronary disease The medical examiner stated that in this case there was already a significant amount of blockage in the coronary arteries 24 Discography EditThis is Hatfield s discography as a solo artist See The Righteous Brothers for his discography as part of the duo Albums Edit Title Album details Track listingMessin In Muscle Shoals 16 Released 1971 Label MGM Records Format Vinyl CD You Left the Water Running 3 00 Let It Be 4 38 If I Asked You 2 32 The Promised Land 2 57 Shuckin and Jivin 2 22 I Saw a Lark 3 21 You Get a Lot to Like 2 50 Show Me the Sunshine 3 54 The Feeling Is Right 2 25 Messin in Muscle Shoals 2 35Singles Edit Year Title Chart positionsUS 25 1963 Hot Tamales 1968 Hang Ups Brothers 1969 Only You And You Alone 95 My Prayer Answer Me 1972 Oo Wee Baby I Love You Stay With Me Film soundtracks Zig Zag Original Motion Picture Score MGM 1970 Bibliography Edit a b c Steve Sullivan 2013 Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings Volume 2 Scarecrow Press pp 101 103 ISBN 978 0810882959 Bobby Hatfield Class of 1958 1940 2003 Anaheim High School Alumni Association Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved November 9 2015 Sisario Ben November 7 2003 Bobby Hatfield Dies at 63 Righteous Brothers Tenor The New York Times Sigma Alpha Epsilon alumni The Telegraph June 29 2011 Retrieved August 8 2014 Bill Medley April 24 2014 The Time of My Life A Righteous Brother s Memoir Da Capo Press pp 10 11 ISBN 978 0306823169 a b Mike Anton November 12 2003 Remembering a Blue Eyed Soul Brother Los Angeles Times Gary James Gary James Interview With Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers Classicbands com Bill Medley April 24 2014 The Time of My Life A Righteous Brother s Memoir Da Capo Press pp 12 13 ISBN 978 0306823169 Bob Leszczak December 11 2014 Encyclopedia of Pop Music Aliases 1950 2000 Rowman amp Littlefield Publishers p 283 ISBN 9781442240087 Unchained Melody at Songfacts Songfacts com Retrieved March 27 2013 Righteous Brothers Rock amp Roll Hall of Fame Mark Ribowsky May 2 2000 He s a Rebel Phil Spector Rock and Roll s Legendary Producer Cooper Square Press p 208 ISBN 9781461661030 Medley Leaves Righteous Bros Billboard February 24 1968 a b Peter Richmond BOBBY HATFIELD 1940 2003 Blue eyed Soul Brother Spectropop Haunted Las Vegas Famous Phantoms Creepy Casinos and Gambling Ghosts Globe Pequot Press 2012 p 67 ISBN 9780762789108 a b Bobby Hatfield Messin In Muscle Shoals Discogs Michel Ruppli Ed Novitsky 1998 The MGM Labels A Discography Volume 2 Volumes 1961 1982 Greenwood Press p 623 ISBN 978 0313307799 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link Frank Hoffmann 2005 Rhythm and Blues Rap and Hip hop Facts on File pp 225 226 ISBN 9780816069804 The Righteous Brothers Songwriters Hall of Fame Archived from the original on October 13 2015 Retrieved December 17 2015 Righteous Brothers Rock amp Roll Hall of Fame Obituary of Linda Jean Hatfield May 18 1951 May 8 2010 Dignity Memorial Retrieved October 29 2022 Remembrance The Righteous Brothers Archived from the original on December 3 2015 Chris Epting Jim Kaa Jim Washburn Barry Rillera Jordan West November 18 2014 Rock n Roll in Orange County Music Madness and Memories History Press SC p 125 ISBN 978 1626196094 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link a b Cocaine caused death of Bobby Hatfield Associated Press The Argus Press January 6 2004 Bobby Hatfield Chart History Billboard External links EditRighteous Brothers Discography contains Bobby Hatfield Discographies and Tribute Bobby Hatfield at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bobby Hatfield amp oldid 1129206179, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
