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
I'll Remember
The Tokens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby woo
In the still of the night
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
I held you, held you tight
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
'Cause I love, love you so
Promise I'll never let you go
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby woo)
In the still of the night
(In the still of the night)
I remember that night in May
(I remember, I remember)
The stars were bright above
(I remember, I remember)
I'll hope and I'll pray
(I remember, I remember)
To keep your precious love
So before the the light
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
Hold me again with all of your might
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby woo)
In the still of the night
(In the still of the night)
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
So before the the light
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
Hold me again with all of your might
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby woo)
In the still of the night
(In the still of the night)
In the still of the night
Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo
Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo
Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo
...
The Tokens' "I'll Remember" is a timeless classic that captures the essence of a love that lasts a lifetime. The song begins with a series of syllables, 'Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo,' that are repeated throughout the verses and serve as a rhythmic backdrop to the lyrics. The song's melody is soothing and calming, adding to the romantic mood that is set from the start.
The song's lyrics tell the story of a couple who shared a special moment in the still of the night. The singer reminisces about the time he held his sweetheart tightly, promising never to let go. The couple's time together was magical, and he prays for her love to endure. As the night draws to a close, he asks her to hold him again with all her might before light breaks the spell of their shared moment.
The song is a beautiful portrayal of young love's purity and romance that endures the test of time. The gentle rhythm and soft, harmonious soundscape wraps the listener in a nostalgic world of innocent love and hope. The song ends with the repetition of 'Sho doop shooby doo' creating a long-lasting impression on the listener, making it one of the most unforgettable songs of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
In the still of the night
During the quiet hours of darkness
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
I held you, held you tight
I embraced you, held you close to me
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
'Cause I love, love you so
Because I have great love for you
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
Promise I'll never let you go
Pledge to retain your presence in my life
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby woo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
In the still of the night
During the quiet hours of darkness
(In the still of the night)
Repeated statement emphasizing the time of the event
I remember that night in May
Recall of a specific night in the month of May
(I remember, I remember)
Repeated statement emphasizing the act of remembrance
The stars were bright above
The sky was illuminated by luminous celestial bodies
(I remember, I remember)
Repeated statement emphasizing the act of remembrance
I'll hope and I'll pray
I will express hope and engage in prayer
(I remember, I remember)
Repeated statement emphasizing the act of remembrance
To keep your precious love
To retain affection from you that is valuable to me
So before the the light
Before the arrival of daylight
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
Hold me again with all of your might
Embrace me again with strong physical force
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby woo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
In the still of the night
During the quiet hours of darkness
(In the still of the night)
Repeated statement emphasizing the time of the event
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
Doo baa, doo baa, doo baa
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
So before the the light
Before the arrival of daylight
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby doo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
Hold me again with all of your might
Embrace me again with strong physical force
(Sho doop shooby doo, sho doop shooby woo)
Repetitive vocalizations conveying no particular meaning
In the still of the night
During the quiet hours of darkness
(In the still of the night)
Repeated statement emphasizing the time of the event
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hülya
In the still of the night
I held you
Held you tight
'Cause I love
Love you so
Promise I'll never
Let you go
In the still of the night
I remember
That night in May
The stars were bright above
I'll hope and I'll pray
To keep
Your precious love
Well before the light
Hold me again
With all of your might
In the still of the night
So before the light
Hold me again
With all of your might
In the still of the night
In the still of the night
....
Song beatiful so
MZ
Every so often, every maybe month or so, I like to give this one a listen. There is something so different and pure about this particular version that just moves me whenever I hear it. Such is the power of music to lift us in such a way.
cbparts1
Nobody can match Fred Parris on this song but this is the best cover of this song I've heard. Great Job!
David Shrum
I saw them live in 2001. I was 16 years old, and they were instantly one of my favorites.
ric 63
Such an under rated band, should have had more success!
My Space
They still sound great,takes you down memory lane once more.
Brent Fox
One of the best saxophones ever. What a song.
Richard Fazakas
The Tokens, were a Great Group. This version of In the Still of the Night is the Best !!!
Dominic Petruzzelli
Excellent version of this song !
Johnny Gainor
THE TOKENS have one of the very best sounds ever to emmanate from a male group of this style ~ I don't quite understand why they didn't go even further and have more Hits associated with them - were they somewhat overshadowed by the British Invasion of the 60's?
Laurel Stewart
I think the Beatles craze was a big factor. The Beatles were a new thing in the US. To an english group come to the US was unique