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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
⚫
'''Henry "Hank" Medress''' (November 19, 1938 – June 18, 2007) was an American singer and record producer.
| name = Hank Medress
|image = Hankmedress-amd_tokens.jpg
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Henry Medress
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|11|19|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Brooklyn, New York]], United States
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|06|18|1938|11|19|mf=yes}}
| death_place = [[Manhattan, New York]], United States
| occupation = Singer, record producer
| associated_acts = [[The Tokens]]
}}

⚫
'''Henry''' "'''Hank'''" '''Medress''' (November 19, 1938 – June 18, 2007) was an American singer and record producer, best known for his taking part in the American band [[The Tokens]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
Medress was born in [[Brooklyn, New York]], where he attended [[Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn, New York)|Abraham Lincoln High School]]. In 1955 he joined a [[doo-wop]] group called the Linc-Tones, which also included [[Neil Sedaka]].<ref name=cnnobit>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/obit.medress.ap/index.html 'Lion Sleeps Tonight' singer dead], cnn.com; accessed January 28, 2015.</ref><ref name=apobit>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070623/ap_en_mu/obit_medress 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' singer dies]</ref> After Sedaka's departure, the group reformed with additional singers as [[The Tokens]]. The Tokens achieved a number 1 chart success in 1961 with their arrangement of [[the Lion Sleeps Tonight]], as well as other minor hits. Medress and the Tokens produced hits for the [[Chiffons]], such as "[[He's So Fine]]".<ref name=cnnobit/><ref name=apobit/>
Medress was born in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]], where he attended [[Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn)|"Abraham Lincoln" High School]]. In 1955 he joined a [[doo-wop]] group called '''the Linc-Tones''', from the surname of that [[President of the United States]], which also included at first [[Neil Sedaka]].<ref name=cnnobit>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/obit.medress.ap/index.html 'Lion Sleeps Tonight' singer dead], cnn.com; accessed January 28, 2015.</ref><ref name=apobit>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070623/ap_en_mu/obit_medress 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' singer dies], yahoo.com; accessed May 23, 2017.</ref> After Sedaka's departure, the group reformed with additional singers as [[The Tokens]] in 1958, after several changes of name. The Tokens achieved a #1 chart success in 1961 with their arrangement of "[[The Lion Sleeps Tonight]]", a remake of the 1939 song "Mbube" by [[South Africa]]n singer [[Solomon Linda]]. Medress and the Tokens also produced hits for [[The Chiffons]], such as "[[He's So Fine]]".<ref name=cnnobit/><ref name=apobit/>


After leaving the Tokens, Medress co-produced (with [[Dave Appell]]) many of [[Tony Orlando and Dawn]]'s hits as well as [[Melissa Manchester]]'s [[Vinyl record|LP]].<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings21.2jun21,1,4864855.story?track=rss ''Los Angeles Times'', "Hank Medress, 68; pop music producer, a member of the Tokens"], June 21, 2007; accessed January 28, 2015.</ref> Later, he worked with [[David Johansen]], [[Rick Springfield]], [[Dan Hill]], and [[Richard Simmons]].<ref name=nytimesobit>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/arts/music/22medress.html?ref=obituaries "Hank Medress, 68, Doo-Wop Singer on ‘Lion Sleeps Tonight’, Dies"], nytimes.com; accessed January 28, 2014.</ref> He was president of EMI Music Publishing Canada, from 1990 to 1992.<ref name=cnnobit/> Hank Medress produced a Dan Hill song, "Never Thought (That I Could Love)" in 1987, which was a #43 hit on Billboard Top 100 in the USA. The song was #2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts (USA) in 1987.
After leaving the Tokens, Medress co-produced (with [[Dave Appell]]) many of [[Tony Orlando and Dawn]]'s hits as well as [[Melissa Manchester]]'s [[Vinyl record|LP]].<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings21.2jun21,1,4864855.story?track=rss ''Los Angeles Times'', "Hank Medress, 68; pop music producer, a member of the Tokens"], June 21, 2007; accessed January 28, 2015.</ref> Later, he worked with [[Frankie Valli]], [[David Johansen]], [[Rick Springfield]], [[Dan Hill]], and [[Richard Simmons]].<ref name=nytimesobit>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/arts/music/22medress.html?ref=obituaries "Hank Medress, 68, Doo-Wop Singer on ‘Lion Sleeps Tonight’, Dies"], nytimes.com; accessed January 28, 2014.</ref> He was also president of '''EMI Music Publishing Canada''' from 1990 to 1992.<ref name=cnnobit/> Medress produced the [[Dan Hill]] song, "[[Never Thought (That I Could Love)]]" in 1987, which was a #43 hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and a #2 hit on the ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary chart.


After returning to New York, Medress became a partner in Bottom Line Records, which released recordings of performances at [[The Bottom Line (venue)|The Bottom Line]] club in [[Greenwich Village]], as well as new work by emerging artists. In recent years, Medress had worked as a consultant for [[SoundExchange]], an agency that collects royalties from digital broadcasters, like satellite and Internet radio. {{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
After returning to New York, Medress became a partner in '''Bottom Line Records''', which released recordings of performances at [[The Bottom Line (venue)|The Bottom Line]] club in [[Greenwich Village]], as well as new work by emerging artists. In recent years, Medress had worked as a consultant for [[SoundExchange]], an agency that collects royalties from digital broadcasters, like satellite and Internet radio.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}


==Death==
==Death==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Medress, Hank}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medress, Hank}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:American male pop singers]]
[[Category:American pop singers]]
[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American record producers]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer]]
[[Category:Musicians from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Musicians from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New York]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni]]

[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]

[[Category:The Tokens members]]
{{US-record-producer-stub}}
{{US-pop-singer-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:28, 29 June 2024

Hank Medress
Background information
Birth nameHenry Medress
Born(1938-11-19)November 19, 1938
Brooklyn, New York, United States
DiedJune 18, 2007(2007-06-18) (aged 68)
Manhattan, New York, United States
Occupation(s)Singer, record producer

Henry "Hank" Medress (November 19, 1938 – June 18, 2007) was an American singer and record producer, best known for his taking part in the American band The Tokens.

Biography

[edit]

Medress was born in Brooklyn, New York City, where he attended "Abraham Lincoln" High School. In 1955 he joined a doo-wop group called the Linc-Tones, from the surname of that President of the United States, which also included at first Neil Sedaka.[1][2] After Sedaka's departure, the group reformed with additional singers as The Tokens in 1958, after several changes of name. The Tokens achieved a #1 chart success in 1961 with their arrangement of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", a remake of the 1939 song "Mbube" by South African singer Solomon Linda. Medress and the Tokens also produced hits for The Chiffons, such as "He's So Fine".[1][2]

After leaving the Tokens, Medress co-produced (with Dave Appell) many of Tony Orlando and Dawn's hits as well as Melissa Manchester's LP.[3] Later, he worked with Frankie Valli, David Johansen, Rick Springfield, Dan Hill, and Richard Simmons.[4] He was also president of EMI Music Publishing Canada from 1990 to 1992.[1] Medress produced the Dan Hill song, "Never Thought (That I Could Love)" in 1987, which was a #43 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a #2 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

After returning to New York, Medress became a partner in Bottom Line Records, which released recordings of performances at The Bottom Line club in Greenwich Village, as well as new work by emerging artists. In recent years, Medress had worked as a consultant for SoundExchange, an agency that collects royalties from digital broadcasters, like satellite and Internet radio.[citation needed]

Death

[edit]

Medress died of lung cancer at his Manhattan home on June 18, 2007, aged 68.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c 'Lion Sleeps Tonight' singer dead, cnn.com; accessed January 28, 2015.
  2. ^ a b 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' singer dies, yahoo.com; accessed May 23, 2017.
  3. ^ Los Angeles Times, "Hank Medress, 68; pop music producer, a member of the Tokens", June 21, 2007; accessed January 28, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Hank Medress, 68, Doo-Wop Singer on ‘Lion Sleeps Tonight’, Dies", nytimes.com; accessed January 28, 2014.
[edit]
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