Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers is born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is born in Santa Ana, California.
Recording as the Paramours, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield - soon to be the Righteous Brothers - release their first single, “That’s the Way We Love,” on the Smash label.
The Righteous Brothers’ classic R&B dance tune “Little Latin Lupe Lu” is released on the Moonglow label.
The Righteous Brothers become the first white act signed to Phil Spector’s Philles label.
The Righteous Brothers appear on premiere of ABC-TV’s rock and roll variety show Shindig!, for which they become cohosts.
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,’ by the Righteous Brothers, tops the U.S. charts for the first of two weeks. Two days earlier, it hit #1 in the U.K.
“Just Once in My Life,” the Righteous Brothers’ followup to “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” enters the Top Ten.
“Unchained Melody,” the Righteous Brothers’ third consecutive Top Ten hit under the tutelage of producer Phil Spector, peaks at #4.
Phil Spector sells the Righteous Brothers’ contract to MGM Records for $1 million.
The Righteous Brothers’ “Ebb Tide,” the fourth and final single in a yearlong run with producer Phil Spector, reaches #5.
“(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” the Righteous Brothers’ first single for MGM’s Verve label, tops the U.S. charts for the first of three weeks.
Soul and Inspiration becomes the Righteous Brothers’ first gold album (500,000 copies sold).
Bill Medley leaves the Righteous Brothers for a solo career. Bobby Hatfield enlists Jimmy Walker (of the Knickerbockers) in a new duo.
After six years apart, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield announce plans to reunite as the Righteous Brothers on the Sonny & Cher show.
Give It to the People, the Righteous Brothers’ comeback album, is released on Haven, a subsidiary of Capitol Records. It yields three sizable hits
“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” a duet between Bill Medley (of the Righteous Brothers) and Jennifer Warnes, tops the singles chart.
The original version of the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” included in the popular film Ghost, reaches #13 in the U.S. and goes on to top the British charts for four weeks. A newly recorded version of the same song by the duo will also reach #19 in the U.S.
Curb Records releases The Best of the Righteous Brothers, which is eventually certified platinum (1 million sales). Rhino Records’ Anthology (1962-1974), released one month earlier, will go on to be certified gold (500,000 sales).
The Righteous Brothers are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the eighteenth annual induction dinner. Billy Joel is their presenter.
