Stage: Bill Medley

By Barbara Scherzer

For more than four decades, the Righteous Brothers--the high tenor of Bobby Hatfield and the low baritone of Bill Medley--blended beautifullly on records and in live performances. Hatfield died in November, and his longtime partner recently returned to the stage with "Bill Medley Celebrates the Music of the Righteous Brothers." This touching tribute show to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo gets it on thanks to solid singing and playing by Medley and his 10-member band.

With an upbeat production that hits the right buttons emotionally, the late Hatfield's voice can be heard on the audio tracks, yielding in effect a live duet with Medley for the show intro/overture and in the songs "Soul and Inspiration" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'." Another feelgood moment is the "Rock and Roll Heaven" number, which Medley sings solo while images of Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, John Lennon and, of course, Hatfield flash on the screen.

Expanding beyond his Righteous memories, Medley speaks of other music innovators who meant the most to the duo, before launching into well-crafted singing segments honoring artists such as Ray Charles, James Brown and Jerry Lee Lewis. New to the mix, Medley also blows the blues with his self-penned tune called "This Will Be the Last Time" that he warbles while pounding the piano.

Blessed with a self-deprecating sense of humor, Medley gives us his take on the Righteous rock classic "Lupe Lu," which he puckishly performs for the first time as a romantic soliloquy. Saying that he is now "fifty-thirteen," Medley adds, "I am going to be in my 50s a long, long, time." Since two of Medley's children are rock 'n' rollers in their own right, he wistfully speaks of giving his wife tuba lessons so they could all play Branson.

Band members who individually shine include Lucinda Chatfield, who accompanies the "Great Balls of Fire" number with her wicked harmonica playing. She also duets with Medley for his top 10 hit, "Time of My Life." Early in the show, Lee Ferrell is so fine in his saxophone solo moments as is guitarist Jamie Browning. In the doo wop segment, Browning and Ferrell join Medley and Tim Lee for a rousing round of vocalizations. For a Righteous slice of rock "n' roll heaven performed by artists at the top of their game, this celebration lets the good times roll.