Bill Medley, best known as one half of the legendary duo The Righteous Brothers, was born in 1940 in Santa Ana, California. Music was a constant presence in his life, as his parents were involved in a swing band. From a young age, Medley was drawn to the sounds of rhythm and blues, and he grew up listening to icons like Little Richard, Ray Charles, and B.B. King. In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Medley recalled hearing Little Richard and feeling a deep desire to pursue music. His early exposure to music, particularly black gospel and rhythm & blues, inspired him to become a singer despite societal barriers at the time.<\/p>\n
Medley started singing in a church choir and later teamed up with his friend Don Fiduccia to form a duo called The Romancers. Their harmonies were the foundation of Medley\u2019s future career. After a few years, Medley moved on to form The Paramours, a group that had some success in the early 1960s. Despite starting from humble beginnings, Medley\u2019s determination paid off when, at the age of 19, he sold a few songs to The Diamonds. This success marked the beginning of a career that would eventually define him as one of the greatest voices in popular music.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bill Medley, best known as one half of the legendary duo The Righteous Brothers, was born in 1940 in Santa Ana, California. Music was a constant presence in his life, as his parents were involved in a swing band. From a young age, Medley was drawn to the sounds of rhythm and blues, and he…<\/p>\n