Hank Medress "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" Singer Dies at 68

[Brian Damage]

Hank Medress who performed with the doo wop group the Tokens to help their best known hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" surge to the top of the charts in its day, died Monday of lung cancer at 68.

Hank Medress may not have been a household name, but he worked with an enormous amount of show business personalities throughout the years. In 1955 he was part of a quartet with none other than Neil Sedaka, in which they performed as the Linc-Tones.


After the departure of Sedaka to his solo career, he joined up with lead singer Jay Siegel, along with brothers Mitch and PHil Margo to form the Tokens.
He also helped the girl-group the Chiffons in the studio with their major hits "One Fine Day" and "He's So fine."

Medress also worked with Tony Orlando, convincing him when he was a record executive to do the vocals on a song named "Knock Three Times." He also co-produced the hit single for Tony Orlando and Dawn "Candida."

Medress is survived by four children and two grandchildren.