Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley Returns to Music With 1st Album in Nearly 20 Years

Bill Medley (R) and Bobby Hartfield of the Righteous Brothers perform at the 18th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City on March 10, 2003. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Bill Medley, one half of the musical duo Righteous Brothers, is set to release his first album in nearly two decades. His latest work, “Straight From the Heart,” comes after a battle with throat cancer that nearly took his ability to sing.

Diagnosed in 2020, Medley underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth. Fortunately, the procedure preserved his vocal cords. “That was an incredibly scary thing to go through,” he told The Guardian. “If I lost my voice, I would be devastated.”

The album is a collection of heartfelt country covers, featuring songs from renowned artists like Kris Kristofferson and George Jones. Medley said he believes he can bring authenticity to these songs due to his own life experiences.

“I feel I can sing these songs because I’ve lived these songs,” he said.  “When you get older, you’ve seen a lot of ups and downs. And I’ve had some real downs.”

His struggles with his voice date back to 1974 when he was diagnosed with laryngitis while performing solo in Las Vegas after the initial split of the Righteous Brothers. Despite his condition, Medley continued performing three shows a night, worsening the damage. “That’s like running on a sprained ankle. It’s just gonna get worse,” he recalled. A doctor warned him that his vocal cords had become severely damaged.

A turning point came when he met an old high school teacher, who introduced him to a set of intensive vocal exercises. Though painful, Medley stuck with them. “I’m surprised I stuck it out, but thank God I did because my voice came back,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Medley has continued to persevere. He acknowledges that the 1970s were particularly difficult. “You can take the ‘70s as far as I’m concerned. It was a very tough 10 years for me.”

Medley remains grateful to be performing at his age, though he admits that touring has become more physically demanding. “I’m pretty dang good for 84. The traveling is what tires me out, so I have to slow down a bit. People ask me, ‘When are you going to retire?’ I say, ‘I have to get a job first. This isn’t a job.’ To be 84 and out here singing songs to people who love the music? It’s flat-out a blessing,” he told AARP.

Medley’s Career and Legacy

Born on Sept. 19, 1940, in Santa Ana, California, Medley rose to fame in the 1960s as one-half of the Righteous Brothers alongside Bobby Hatfield. The duo became known for their signature “blue-eyed soul” sound, with hits like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Unchained Melody,” and “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration.” Their deep, emotive harmonies left a lasting impact on the music industry, earning them a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Following the initial split of the Righteous Brothers in 1968, Medley pursued a solo career, releasing several albums and scoring a hit with “Brown Eyed Woman.” In the 1980s, he found renewed success when “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” a duet with Jennifer Warnes for the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack, became an international sensation. The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy Award.

Throughout his career, Medley has continued to perform and record music, collaborating with numerous artists across genres. In 2016, he revived the Righteous Brothers name with singer Bucky Heard, bringing their classic sound to new audiences.