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
Tonight i Fell in Love
The Tokens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, tonight I fell in love
Whoa
Tonight, tonight I fell in love
I want the stars above
To know tonight I fell in love
Tonight, I gave my heart away
True love is here to stay
'Cause tonight I fell in love
Oh, what a wonder, this magic spell I'm under
This feeling that I feel, is it really real?
My heart beats so fast, I pray that it will last
'Til the end of time
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, tonight I fell in love
Whoa
Tonight, oh, may it last forever
Forever and ever
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love
The Tokens’ song “Tonight I Fell in Love” is a classic love song that expresses the joy and excitement of falling in love. The opening lines of the song, “Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie,” are nonsensical, but they set the playful tone of the song. The repetition of the phrase “tonight I fell in love” throughout the song emphasizes the certainty and excitement that comes with falling in love. The lyrics also express the desire for the celestial world to witness the singer’s newfound love.
The second verse of the song declares that the singer has given their heart away and that true love is here to stay. The lyrics convey the feelings of being under a magical spell and experiencing a rush of emotions that make one question if the experience is real. The chorus reassures us that the love is indeed real, and the singer hopes that this feeling will last until the end of time.
The song is rich in emotional expression and manages to capture the feeling of falling in love with simple yet powerful lyrics. The repetition of the opening lines of the song adds to the playful nature of the lyrics and creates a sense of excitement and anticipation.
Line by Line Meaning
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
The excitement of a new love is overwhelming and indescribable, like a nonsensical tune you can't help but sing.
Tonight, tonight I fell in love
The singer has fallen in love and wants to commemorate the moment.
I want the stars above
The singer wants to shout their love from the rooftops and let the whole world know.
To know tonight I fell in love
The artist wants the universe to be aware that they have fallen in love and this feeling should be acknowledged.
Tonight, I gave my heart away
The artist feels they have fully committed to this new love and has given everything to make it work.
True love is here to stay
The singer believes that they have found true love that will last a lifetime.
'Cause tonight I fell in love
The love that the singer has found is the reason they are experiencing this newfound joy and excitement.
Oh, what a wonder, this magic spell I'm under
The artist is caught up in the magic of love and the feeling is indescribable.
This feeling that I feel, is it really real?
The artist is experiencing such a strong emotion that they question whether or not it's too good to be true.
My heart beats so fast, I pray that it will last
The artist wants this feeling of love to last forever and is afraid of losing it.
'Til the end of time
The singer wants this love to endure for the rest of their life.
Tonight, oh, may it last forever
The artist hopes that this new love will never fade away and will only grow stronger with time.
Forever and ever
The singer wants this love to last for all eternity.
Yes, tonight I fell in love
The singer affirms that they are head over heels in love and nothing can change that.
Yes, tonight I fell in love
The singer repeats that they have fallen deeply in love to emphasize the overwhelming nature of their emotions.
Yes, tonight I fell in love
The artist concludes the song by reaffirming that they have indeed fallen in love and are overjoyed by this newfound emotion.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: Mitchell Margo, Henry Medress, Philip Margo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LaPatataSexy123
Esta noche me enamoré
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo esta noche me enamoré, woo - oo
Esta noche, esta noche me enamoré, quiero las estrellas arriba
Saber que esta noche me enamoré
Esta noche, entregué mi corazón al amor que puede quedarse
Porque esta noche me enamoré
¡Oh, qué maravilla, este hechizo mágico en el que estoy!
Este sentimiento que siento, ¿es realmente real?
Mi corazón late tan rápido, rezo para que dure
Hasta el fin de los tiempos
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, doobie, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, woo - oo, esta noche me enamoré, woo - oo
Esta noche, oh que dure para siempre, para siempre y para siempre
Sí, esta noche me enamoré
Sí, esta noche me enamoré
Sí, esta noche me enamoré
¡Vaya
LaPatataSexy123
Letra:
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, tonight I fell in love
Whoa
Tonight, tonight I fell in love
I want the stars above
To know tonight I fell in love
Tonight, I gave my heart away
True love is here to stay
'Cause tonight I fell in love
Oh, what a wonder, this magic spell I'm under
This feeling that I feel, is it really real?
My heart beats so fast, I pray that it will last
'Til the end of time
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, tonight I fell in love
Whoa
Tonight, oh, may it last forever
Forever and ever
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Angel Flores
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, tonight I fell in love
Whoa
Tonight, tonight I fell in love
I want the stars above
To know tonight I fell in love
Tonight, I gave my heart away
True love is here to stay
'Cause tonight I fell in love
Oh, what a wonder, this magic spell I'm under
This feeling that I feel, is it really real?
My heart beats so fast, I pray that it will last
'Til the end of time
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, doobie, doobie
Dum, doobie dum, whoa, tonight I fell in love
Whoa
Tonight, oh, may it last forever
Forever and ever
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Jose Fonfrias
I love everything about this tune. How the lead singer's falsetto overlaps the clear high harmonies, the musical accompaniment, and the hand clapping. I love the way the song modulates midway through. But mostly - it just makes me smile whenever I hear it.
That girl!
Rest In Peace, Phil Margo. You’re singing in that everlasting Doo-Wop Palace in the sky. It’s opened to Baby Boomers like us year-round! We’ll all find our way there one day, and we’ll be singing along with you.
Jackie Brookman
Fabulous voices and great harmony! So lucky to have been a kid when this came out.
steven ford
Great song that has stood up to the test of time.Wish artists today would sing like these guys.This folks is what you call music.
Frank D.
It just Grabs my Soul, I actually get misty and chills in my spine. Music has always taken control of me completley and this version is WOW!
David Driggers
This is a song that should be considered a classic.
jeffsor47
It IS a classic.
Rodney Dewar
David Driggers lion sleeps tonlght
Marvin the Maniac
It shouldn't be considered a classic because it already is a classic.
janny enderle
I totally agree...I sure miss my friend...Mitch