Singer of 'Lion Sleeps Tonight' dies

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 24, 2007

Hank Medress, whose vocals with the doo wop group the Tokens helped propel their irrepressible single The Lion Sleeps Tonight to the top of the charts and who produced hits with other groups, has died of lung cancer. He was 68.

Mr. Medress died Monday (June 18, 2007) at his Manhattan home, relatives said.

He was a teenager at Brooklyn's Lincoln High School when he launched his vocal quartet in 1955 with Neil Sedaka, performing as the Linc-Tones. When Sedaka departed for a successful solo career, lead singer Jay Siegel joined brothers Mitch and Phil Margo and Mr. Medress to become the Tokens.

The band had other minor Top 40 hits, including I Hear the Trumpets Blow in 1966 and Portrait of My Love in 1967 - but never recaptured the success of its enduring single.

More recently, he worked as a consultant to Sound Exchange, a nonprofit group helping musicians collect royalties.

Paris Hilton to appear on 'King' Wednesday

Paris Hilton plans to appear on CNN's Larry King Live on Wednesday night, a day after she's scheduled to be released from jail, a spokeswoman for King said Saturday.

"She'll do the whole hour, " said the show's spokeswoman, Bridget Leininger.

The announcement followed competition for the interview between ABC and NBC that ended Friday with both networks saying they were no longer interested. Both networks were embarrassed by reports that they were willing to pay the Hilton family for materials related to an interview. Hilton will not be compensated by CNN for the interview.

Hilton is serving a 45-day sentence for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.

[Last modified June 23, 2007, 23:22:18]