August 10: "Bobby" Hatfield -The Righteous Brothers - was born on this date in 1940...

... he died on November 5, 2003.

Hatfield was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and moved with his family to Anaheim, California when he was four. A 1958 graduate of Anaheim High School, he sang in the school choir and played baseball. He briefly considered signing as a professional ballplayer, but his passion for music led him to pursue a singing career while still attending high school.

He met his singing partner Bill Medley while attending California State University Long Beach.

In 1962, while performing in Los Angeles as part of a five-member group called The Paramours, a marine in the audience shouted out, "That was righteous, brothers!" prompting Hatfield and fellow member, Bill Medley to form a duo using that name.

(#1 in US - 1964)

Here are two of their other biggest hits (press to view):

"Unchained Melody" (#4 in US- 1965)

"Ebb Tide" (#5 in US- 1965)

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