The group was formed in 1955 at Brooklyn's Abraham Lincoln High School, and was known first as The Linc-Tones. Originally featuring members Neil Sedaka, Hank Medress, Eddie Rabkin, and Cynthia Zolotin, Rabkin was replaced by Jay Siegel in 1956, and the band recorded its first single, "While I Dream" that same year. In 1957 Sedaka and Zolotin left the band, leaving only Siegel and Medress, who would recruit two additional band members and record the single "Picture in My Wallet" as Darrell & the Oxfords. Finally establishing its most famous name and crew, the band became known as the Tokens in 1960 after they recruited the 13-year-old multi-instrumentalist and first tenor Mitch Margo and his baritone brother Phil Margo.
In early 1961, the Tokens released a single for Warwick Records titled "Tonight I Fell In Love," which scored No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned the group an opportunity to perform on the television program American Bandstand. The popularity that the band garnered as a result of this performance brought it new recording opportunities, culminating in its cover of Solomon Linda's "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for RCA Victor Records. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it remained for three weeks. The same track peaked at No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart. Both "Tonight I Fell in Love" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" sold more than 1 million copies, and were awarded gold discs.
From 1962 to 1970, the group released nine more songs that scored the Top 100. Jay Siegel was the lead vocalist on all the Tokens' hits including "I Hear Trumpets Blow" (1966) and "Portrait of My Love" (1967). Beginning in 1963, The Tokens also began serving as record producers for other artists, such as the Chiffons, Randy & the Rainbows and the Happenings. Their production company was called Bright Tunes and they also created their own record company, B.T. (Bright Tunes) Puppy Records. In 1972, Jay Siegel did background vocals for a re-recording of Lion Sleeps Tonight with Robert John as the lead vocalist. This version hit #3 on the charts, and was awarded a Gold disc.
In 1970, Hank Medress began producing an act for Bell Records, Dawn, which featured the former teen-idol Tony Orlando. It was as a favor to Medress that Orlando sang the lead on the first record, "Candida", which became a Top 3 hit.
In 1973, Medress ended his relationship with the group and Siegel teamed with the Margo Brothers to form the group Cross Country, which would have some success with its cover version of "In the Midnight Hour." The Tokens reunited during 1975 for occasional weeks as singing regulars on the Adam Wade hosted game show Musical Chairs and in 1978 recorded a song for ABC's Schoolhouse Rock named "A Victim of Gravity".
Brothers Mitch and Philip Margo continue to perform with new members Jay Leslie, Mike Johnson and Noah Margo (one of Margo's sons) playing drums. Mitch Margo's sons, Damien Margo and Ari Margo, also make occasional guest performances with the band, exemplifying Phil Margo's saying that "If you hang around long enough you can grow your own band."
Siegel continues to perform with his own version of The Tokens as well, featuring bass singer Bill Reid and, more recently, John "Jay" Traynor, the original lead singer (before Jay Black) of Jay & the Americans and the Mystics. Siegel's son is also part of the group as keyboardist and occasional vocalist. (John "Jay" Traynor died January 2, 2014, of liver cancer at a hospital in Tampa, Florida.)
Jay Siegel's Tokens and the Margo brothers reunited in 2000 to perform on the PBS special, Doo Wop 51. At the time, Siegel's Tokens were Siegel, Reid and Eddy Rezzonico; Rezzonico had replaced Richie Grasso during the 1990s.
Mitch Margo died on November 24, 2017, aged 70.
Decades after not receiving any publishing credit for their specific original musical composition part of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", the band began a lawsuit in order to regain some of these publishing rights. The case was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. To this day, the Tokens claim that some of the original musical composition of the 1961 song was created by them, even though they have not been awarded this status by their record company.
On October 19, 2009, Phil and Mitch Margo filed suit in Manhattan for the rights to the Tokens name. They claim in their filing that Henry Medress suggested the name. In a competing suit filed in California by Siegel, he claims Siegel, Medress and Sedaka released an album named Neil Sedaka and the Tokens previously.[9] On Sedaka's own website, there is a listing in his discography catalog for a 1958 release of Neil Sedaka and the Tokens as well as a second album, also during 1958, named Neil Sedaka and the Tokens and Coins.
As well as being performing and recording artists The Tokens were also record producers. Here are some of the records they produced:
"He's So Fine" by the Chiffons
"One Fine Day" by The Chiffons
"Denise" by Randy & the Rainbows
"See You In September" by the Happenings
"I Got Rhythm" by the Happenings
"Go Away Little Girl" by the Happenings
"Candida" by Tony Orlando and Dawn
"Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando and Dawn
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn
Awards and recognition
The Tokens were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 1998, The Tokens were mentioned by the Guinness World Records, for performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the United States and Canada.
Band members
Classic lineup
Original Tokens
Jay Siegel – Lead singer
Mitch Margo
Neil Sedaka
Phil Margo
Hank Medress
Joe Venneri – Guitar
Current groups
Jay Siegel's Tokens
Jay Siegel (original lead vocalist)
Bill Reid
Kurt “Frenchy” Yahjian (replaced Jay Traynor after his passing January 2, 2014)
The Margo Brothers' Tokens
Mitch Margo – Lead Vocals, Guitar (died November 2017)
Phil Margo – Vocals, Percussion
Jay Leslie – Vocals, Horns
Mike Johnson – Vocals, Keyboard
Noah Margo – Drums
Ari Margo – Guest Performer, Vocals
Damien Margo – Guest Performer, Vocals, Drums
He's in Town
The Tokens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(He's in town)
He's back in town
(He's in town)
Girl, I knew just what was wrong
(He's in town)
When you weren't home
All week long
And now I see it in your eyes
(He's in town)
The look on your face
When you're thinking of him
Can't be disguised
I was afraid
He'd come back someday
And I'd be the one to lose
I knew when you saw him
You wouldn't ignore him
And he'd be the one you choose
No, you don't have to tell me
He's in town
(He's in town)
He's back in town
(He's in town)
No, you don't have to tell me
He's in town
(he's in town)
He's back in town
(He's in town)
He's in town
(He's in town)
(He's in town)
The Tokens' song "He's in Town" tells a story of a man who feels suspicious about his significant other's behaviour since she wasn't picking up her phone all week long. However, the man's suspicions are confirmed when he sees the look on her face that cannot be disguised when she is thinking of or talking about someone special. The man is afraid that the person his partner is thinking about is the one who he'd lose her to - and this person turns out to be someone who has returned to town. The song is about the man's realization that his partner's feelings for him have faded away, and she has found someone new who has returned to town.
The lyrics of the song describe the insecurity and anxiety that can arise in a relationship when one partner is suspicious of the other partner's actions. The tone of the song is melancholic and regretful, with the singer now resigned to the fact that he has lost his partner to another person. The lyrics indicate that the relationship has fallen apart, and there is no point in the singer trying to salvage it.
Line by Line Meaning
He's in town
The person who the singer is worried about has returned to town
He's back in town
The person who the singer is worried about has returned to town
Girl, I knew just what was wrong
The singer suspected something was wrong when the girl was not home and did not answer the phone
When you weren't home
The girl was not at home when the singer tried to contact her
Each time when I phoned
The singer attempted to call the girl multiple times
All week long
The singer's attempts to contact the girl went on for a week
And now I see it in your eyes
The singer can tell from the girl's expression that she is thinking about the person who returned to town
The look on your face
The girl's facial expression reveals that she is thinking of the person who returned to town
When you're thinking of him
The girl is thinking about the person who returned to town
Can't be disguised
The girl's true feelings cannot be hidden
I was afraid
The singer was worried
He'd come back someday
The person the singer is worried about would return to town at some point
And I'd be the one to lose
The singer is worried that they will lose the girl to the person who returned to town
I knew when you saw him
The singer was certain that the girl would be drawn to the person who returned to town
You wouldn't ignore him
The girl would not be able to ignore the person who returned to town
And he'd be the one you choose
The girl would choose the person who returned to town over the singer
No, you don't have to tell me
The singer already knows what the girl is thinking and feeling
He's in town
The person who the singer is worried about has returned to town
He's back in town
The person who the singer is worried about has returned to town
He's in town
The person who the singer is worried about has returned to town
He's in town
The person who the singer is worried about has returned to town
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@criscoleman
The Tokens Lyrics
"He's In Town"
He's in town
(He's in town)
He's back in town
(He's in town)
Girl, I knew just what was wrong
(He's in town)
When you weren't home
Each time when I phoned
All week long
And now I see it in your eyes
(He's in town)
The look on your face
When you're thinking of him
Can't be disguised
I was afraid
He'd come back someday
And I'd be the one to lose
I knew when you saw him
You wouldn't ignore him
And he'd be the one you choose
No, you don't have to tell me
He's in town
(He's in town)
He's back in town
(He's in town)
No, you don't have to tell me
He's in town
(He's in town)
He's back in town
(He's in town)
He's in town
(He's in town)
(He's in town)
@jimsouthern1398
This came out in late 1964 and I was the 6-Midnite DJ at 5KW KXLF in Butte, MT. I played it every night for about 5 weeks. It brings back precious memories of playing the hits and being thankful that I was able to be on the air for some of the greatest music ever. Radio was the best!!
@susankennedy5739
Radio WAS the best and the pop music was incredible back then. I loved this song, bought the 45, and thought of my first boy friend; this is a very soulful song.
@Beejay129
Great. Must get to that part of the US one day.
@larryjohnson6385
A very underestimated group
Beautiful harmonies 😍
Very sad song, one of my favorites 👍
@richardaubrey382
Wow Carole King’s beautiful chord changes !!
And the acoustic guitar 👏. Great record. I’d always heard the Rockin berries version and it’s good but this is special .
@61dodgelancer
I love both versions of "He's In Town". The Tokens and the Rockin' Berries. Living here in the USA I hadn't heard the Rockin' Berries version until more recent times.
@stevefranklin8052
This was the flip side of oh cathy. Both great songs. My parents had divorced in 63 after 20 years of marriage. I was 4 . When dad came back to visit us a couple times a year, Mom would play this alot.He moved to New York after the divorce. We were in California. When I got older. I got it. I still have this record and many others.
@josephsalvas3698
Great Love Song! Cool Job Tokens Band! Enjoy this Song Forever! 🥰👍🎶
@chazzjazz6906
Great song from 64' should have been a smash hit! But still a favorite!
@criscoleman
Well, it did reach #43.