WIMOWEH: The Jay Siegel Story
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- čas přidán 10. 06. 2012
- At concerts, some women toss undergarments at heartthrob singers, but when Jay Siegel performs, they toss stuffed lions. Known more by his voice than by his name, Siegel and his group, The Tokens, topped the charts 50 years ago with his distinct falsetto on the classic mega-hit, 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. Now at the age of 72, Jay resides in Rockland County, NY, where he has turned his garage into a make-shift museum of his career. He loves the work he does as he's still touring today and yes, he can still sing in the same key as he did when he was just a teenager.
- Hudba
![The Story of SOLOMON LINDA [English CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GozoZP4__DY/mqdefault.jpg)
*Jay still has one of the most amazing trained voices that I have ever heard.* thanks for the little glimpse into his personal life. Stay healthy, Jay.
I like many have always loved Wimoweh, I was especially just blown away by Anita Darian and 50 years later her voice in this is still eye opening. (She sang the high part). Sadly she passed in 2015 but I will never forget her talent in the Lion sleeps tonight...
I love this guy's positive attitude. That must be why he can still sing the way he does.
I was a teenager when this came out. What a fantastic voice, Jay made it all happen, and still does. I have to commend the group, no one made it alone, it was a group effort.
Believe it or not, of all the songs out there, The Lion Sleeps Tonight is my 'feel good' song. It always makes me feel better when I hear it. I remember when I was a kid, my father would act silly, singing to it on the radio to get us kids laughing.
czcams.com/video/RPnpN1R38Ac/video.html
Because it was birthed out of Africa! Stolen from Africa, like most of the things the Western glory is built on!!!
@@omokaroojiire You are saying I like it just because it was from Africa? You really hate America and white people in general, don't ya? Being from Africa has nothing to do with it. I just like it. Those guys in Africa should have gotten the dues owed them, yes. But we can't change the past. The American version is much better, much improved anyway. The African guys that originally done it, well it sounded scary as hell. So blah blah blah. The end result is that it is a nice popular song now, and the past is past. I will not allow you or anyone else keep me from enjoying it. It is still my 'feel good' song. Let's just share and enjoy everything the world as a whole has to offer, shall we? And not worry about who or what and when. Unless you just want to keep hatred alive and well. Which is my guess that is exactly what you want to do. But I'm not gonna bite. Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away!
Jay is the "Lion That Sleeps Tonight." I believe that each and every time he sings that song, for him, it's like the thrill of the first time. I never get tired of listening to it and I believe the Tokens never get tired of performing it.
What can I say
But A Wim O Weh?
Lol, whenever I karaoke, this song always, always, ALWAYS without fail, gets a crowd in a fun loving happy atmosphere.
Honestly, no singing group needs anymore than ONE song like this to carry them through life!
Who can be cranky if the lion is asleep? ;-)
Solomon Linda & The evening birds..... Mbube.....1938
Every day at school I spent my lunch money on the juke box playing this song!
The song-"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is like Love at First Sight. Only one time listening is enough to fall in love with this song.
Thanks Jay for this song.
love from India.💓
Such a unique voice with amazing control from falsetto through to baritone
Great guy & great singer too! Amazing that he can still hit those notes singing in his 70's.
Wow. What a trip down memory lane. Tears of joy!
Thank you for such a beautiful song of my childhood, I always saw you look like a lion in your eyes Jay Siegel !
Well Jay, I guess you're 78 this year, 2018, 9 years older than me. Love you man, and one of the best things is married over 50 years!! And have taken good care of that God given voice!! Thank you.
Definitely one of the BEST male falsettos in music history. He's still good looking too.
They stole the song from Salomon linda.
Truth will always surface, it might take a hundred years!!!
@@omokaroojiire absolutely
Solomon Linda&The Evening ( The First Version ) - Mbube, Siegel you thief.. did you tell that the song was actually from an African? you thief..
@@enow0049 I see the insanity is kicking in. What has the Black population done for the Linda family. Has Kanye West stepped up?
Spike Lee? The African-American sports stars? What have you, @enow0049, done for the family?
The Lion Sleeps Tonight, one of the best songs ever written and performed. Jay’s voice, phenomenal!
Still a beautiful voice! One of my fav songs.
Jay lives in my neighborhood. Or more accurately, I live in Jay's neighborhood. I remember when and where I was the first time I heard The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Great times with brilliant voices and songs. Thanks Jay.
He seems like a geniuine down to earth kind of guy.
May God continue to bless you.
Originally it's called "MBUBE" not "wimowe, in Zulu language "MBUBE"means lion...
It's a Zulu kingdom song ...we sing this type of song , it's a form of praise like type of genre we call it (amahubo AkwaZulu)...
Zulu warrior(amabutho in Zulu language) would recite this song to (ilembe or isilo ) meaning king ....
We don't don't say "the lion sleep"..we say MBUBE , referring to ilembe or isilo of the Zulu natal ... after MBUBE we say " wayithinta imbube " meaning u have touched the lion/king
That's truly fascinating
I watched this whole thing to see if he would say something about Solomon Linda the one who did the original song in South Africa back in 1938 and who died with about $20 to his worth in poverty.
I hope he acknowledges the Linda family during his concert. From now on I will always listen to Mbuba.
And he should be helping the Linda family financially.
Yooz racist~
You think he even knows them or about them?
@@ajllafountainWhere'd he get the song? And he probably would claim he 'discovered' it.
What a great song. What a great rendition. Thanks for having a little faith and for sticking your necks out in the beginning to make this happen.
Great people with amazing voices. So humble too!
Class!! Best song ever!!! The Lion Sleeps Tonight "Wimoweh" who can listen to that song and not immediately feel better!!
OdinX316 How about the family of the man it was stolen from?
@@sydboski and how is that supposed to affect how someone feels when they hear the song? How do you feel about eating hamburgers or sauerkraut knowing the Germans killed millions of innocent people in the 30s and 40s? Or watching TV on a Sony knowing the Japanese brutally raped and killed millions of Chinese in the 30s and 40s. And you do know that his family has received a substantial settlement, don't you? Oh... you didn't know that? And you comment anyway?
@@TheOriginalRick still doesn't justify the fact that it was stolen, point blank period
@@takuneil5347 Bless your heart, Taku, but we were discussing how good the song makes one feel upon listening to it. Do you have anything to add on that point, or do you merely wish to whine some more about a point that everyone has already acknowledged?
@Elle Mensah When it was discovered and recognized by the proper people about who actually wrote the song his family got millions of dollars. And...?
a great song by Solomon Linda
That little song they used to sing on the beach was called 'Awimbawe' by an African zulu singer.
Uyimbube(you're a lion)
Jay Siegel, what a voice. Really underrated singer... always in my top!!
Best clip I've seen in ages, and I'm old enough to be his grandson.
my grandparents are all younger than him by about 5-10 years.
@Elle Mensah Cancel culture again. I'm thinking if he stole this we'd have know a long long time ago. I'm sure if he was black you wouldn't be complaining. If he's white it ain't right. Typical.
FABULOUS!!! Jay is just one of a kind, one in a billion! I love and still cherish the years I was with him! Basically 12. The 1st 2 years I got to be his replacement. Boy was that tough and mainly because I smoked in those days. I could not wait till he came back! October 5th, 1987. Yes a date I can never forget! Then we were 4. Myself, Bill Reid, Bobby Love and Jay! We really sounded good with the four of us. Then I left to pursue a bunch of dates with my other group, Billy & The Essentials. Bobby leaves, Bill calls me up, "are you ready to come back?" How could I say no? Ya know you get addicted to the Standing Ovations! But, two many airplanes took their toll on me and a number of other changes I couldn't live with so then I had to leave! A missed prescribed drug from an intern was the cincher and I missed the plane! Anxiety attacks followed it was time to say so long! Still to this day, Jay and I talk, "Once In Awhile". In our last conversation...the things he said made my life worthwhile! "I'll Always Love You" One of my favorite songs of all time! God Bless You Jay Siegel.....
@Spookay T'is Me The Solomon Linda Family does get credit for the original Chant !See the Rolling Stone Magazine Archives for the full story, about 22 pages of good documentation on that song! George David Weiss gets credit for the English Lyric he penned in 1961 after a trip to the African Embassy in NYC. I have a Weavers version on 33 1/3 Live at Carnegie Hall with the son
I have not heard of this gentleman or his group but I have certainly known of the song for decades, as sung by many others. I think the song is far more important that the singer or singers and I think poor Solomon Linda deserves recognition at all costs. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Jay what a great man..love this song...thanks Jay..
My aunt loved this song, I was born legally deaf and I was three years old when this song came out, it was also when I got my first set of hearing aids, the very first song I remember hearing was my aunt singing Angel Baby to me she never called me by my name, I was either Baby Doll or Angel Baby the Lion Sleeps Tonight was the second song I remember hearing, I think she played the record so many times she wore it out 😂😂😂😂
Love that song, an old favourite.
What an amazing voice!!
Amazing how a bigger than life man can bring so much to the table!
Siegel had one of the greatest voices in rock and roll.
Cool story ! Seems like a real down to earth guy. Refreshing to see his passion and ability to relate to his audience.
....and he never mentioned that he stole the original origin of the music that says a lot in character of who he is. Respect to Solomon Linda and his family may they finally get Justice.
solomon didn't want justice he was happy that other people took happiness of his song to say it was stolen solomon would have laughed
No one performed this song as well as Siegel and his group.
Did you know that the word "Wimoweh" is a misinterpretation of the refrain's "uyimbube" from the original song "Mbube"
You definitely correct,as Zulu speaking I wish they can sing it correctly not wemoweh...
Solomon Linda
Imagine if it had never existed.
@@rustykoehler2789 true - a part of our usa memories. I wish Solomon Linda got the royalties and credits/ recognition at each and every performance.
@@RemoteNotary It is in each and every record, genius. Can't you read?
Love this.....LEGENDS .....FOR SURE
I love you Jay Segal and The Tokens!
Love the licence plate 😸 Great group and a positive vibe 👌
I'm half Zulu myself and witnessing a mourning song of one of our tribal warriors turned into a happy song well that's kinda weird in some way😕😂,and it was no wimoweh it was mbube from the old dialect of bubhesi (lion) and the melody of the i'mbubee is actually a loud depicted mourning of the dead by family members at a funeral I'm Zulu tradition but then if America find it mood uplifting then well only umxobothi is what is in short of😅
There are plenty of songs originally referring to sad situations, which are happy uplifting songs. "Shiny Happy People" by REM, is a classic example. The lyrics for the song were written as a satirical translation of the Chinese government's propaganda used after the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989.
Sad he doesnt mention Solomon Linda but when I listen to this song in deep depression something makes me brighten a bitt
Well jay, you certainly are getting more hansome as ever...my son just told me I’ve just listen to the lion sleeps tonight 29 times. Non stop....
Great story. Love it. Thank you.
Love his voice and history!!
As old as the song is it's still one of favorites of all time
The Tokens were amazing. The best songs ever!
Jay you have a beautiful voice. I would warm up before the concert with this song, one of the only songs I can sing properly.
When I first heard that song, it was 1961, I remember exactly where I was Folsom Lake Ca. On a transistor radio. It sounds as good then as it does now.
Beautifully done!
I love Jay Siegel. And I also like Neil Sedaka.
Thanks for this video :)
Jay you are the best singer of the world
He seems like a really great guy!
Fascinating history! Loved seeing it
Great clip.
Music from an era long gone
Still looking and sounding great ( 2017)
What a really nice guy!!! God bless!!
What a nice documentary! :)
this guy is so awesome!
One of my favorite songs since I was a kid. I listened to it riding the Merry-go-round & of course on a record. The best song of that era. Still love it today!!!
PS: So nice to hear you have been married for so many years. 🙏Many more to come.🙏
Wow! Great guy. Very thankful I came across this video and get to know Jay and the tokens background and what they are still doing (I hope in 2019). Very glad he was able to find something he could love to do for the rest of his life for 'work'.
Great when you make a living not having it as a 'have to', but rather a 'get to' (do this)!
Of course, this song is not only a great song but a great and ENDURING song - because it is an ENDEARING song! I could listen to their version of 'Wimoweh' 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' five times a day and not tire of it. We boys listened to it 'The Tokens' version of 'Wimoweh' 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'(as well as other great music as children every night). Our multi-talented father put together a 'Hi Fidelity' Stereo system before many probably even knew they existed or knew they could have one. Not sure if you could buy them in a store at the time. But we listened to all sorts of great music from various genres.
In looking for this song last night I also found a cute animated version of it with a hippo and a dog singing 'Wimoweh' (i.e. the Jay and the Tokens version was used in the animated version). Cute.
[The Tokens - A cute animated version of Pat & Stanley (a Hippo and dog) singing 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight':
czcams.com/video/mrOWDPkYyP0/video.html
]
Then another version of this song, but covered by a girl (Anne Reburn) who arranged it in a very clever way I thought: czcams.com/video/9RnhVDTks3g/video.html
Great video. Thank you.
I honestly thought that Harry Bellefonte done this song. I'm 63 and this song still brings a smile to my face.
One of the underrated singer
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only one person came close, Brian Wilson.
***** Truly Fabulos Tokens, keep rockin' !!! #lovealways
Marvellous!
Wow he seems nice here. I was given some bad news health wise & was thrilled to finally get to see the tokens live. (They saved me temporarily with a pacemaker ) Jay wouldn't even shake my hand & was rude as hell. He lost a long time fan that night. The other member apologized for his behavior & said he was normally nice. We all have our bad days & I would like to believe this side of him rather than the jerk that blew me off & was so rude that night. I'm impressed he has been married for 50 years. Wonder why he was so awful that night if he truly "loves his job"....Hmmmmm Maybe he had a bad night back then or Maybe it's because there was a camera there this time. Would have liked to hear about the African original as well.
Agree, Jen. As a musician doing openings, I have had the opportunity to be around headliners. Unfortunately, they are all like that at one time or another. What they forget is that they are ALWAYS on stage and have a responsibility to their fans, particularly at a concert. This is part of the job Jay claims to love and it is incumbent on him not to neglect that part of it.
Maybe he just wasn't feeling well.
They will never tell you about the original singer, Solomon Linda. He died in poverty while the Tokens made millions.
They owe the Linda family alot of money but the Linda family will never see it.
The Tokens, unethical money-grubbing group. You no where that come from.
In Honor of Cedric the martyr lion whose life was taken away by an American dentist, we call out to all who have been moved by this occurrence and also the music that celebrates the King Lions of Africa, let us all move to stopping the killing of animals for game. May Wimoweh/The Lion Sleeps Tonight play night and day until this person is brought before the world court of opinion to end this practice.
Good night sweep prince Cedric, may you rest in peace.
JAY ... I hope you are well. So Iwas born on October 31, 1951 and lived on Brighton 11th Street in Brighton Beach!! I've traveled alot and lived in Danmark quite a while. But Brighton Beach remains in my heart and 'In the Jungle' was the first song I never forgot, loved it so much and danced to it.
Some years ago in a Budhist Monastery where I was giving acupuncture treatments to the Monks, I met a white man, an older white Monk who made brooms and swept the grounds. So after a month he asked me, "where are you from"? And I said Brooklyn! He got unusually excited and said, "I am from Brooklyn too ... I haven't met anyone from Brooklyn Now for over fifty years! .. I'm from Sheapshead Bay" And I said Brighton Beach. He almost had a stroke!! It took him awhile to catch his breath! Stay Well Jay .. keep on singing!
awesome!!!!!
Einmalig, eine Bereicherung für die Musikwelt ... gut so!
The Tokens version of the Lion Sleeps Tonight is absolutely fantastic! The vocal harmonies are phenomenal. Much better than the original.
It's so sad to see all this selfish rich people still living from this beautiful song without even know the story about it or the name of who wrote it... Rest in peace Solomon Popoli Linda the lion went to sleep in 1962.
jay, i am from devon, pa and married a greensboro, nc guy that went to wharton. we had 4 kids and he would always sing
this song to them. cancer took him 16 years ago and our kids were 15,13,11 and 8.... you have no idea what it means to them !
my husband was born 5-4-52 and i was 6-19-63( my mom had dear friend in texas so i always knew what june teenth meant)
Finally got curious as to what is singing the lead and high back-up on The Lion Sleeps Tonight song. Made me smile.
dude, he can still sing !
Love!!
amazing ....still got it old mate
I absolutely loved that song in Australia here
Most of us first heard "The Kingston Trio" do a highly modified version of this on their 1958 album, "From the Hungry i". I'm betting these guys first heard it there as well.
As a singer myself, I wish the record company had credited Anita Darian for her gorgeous head voice on Lion.
VIDEOHEREBOB, Loulie Jean Norman did the coloratura parts on the 1961 original recording.
www.waybackattack.com/talesftaa-coloratura.html
As a South African myself. I wish they had credited the South African man who this song originates from. But he died with just 10 dollars in his bank account
@@annacronism I guess Siegal didnt acknowledge that either. "Great guy"......
I worked for Pete Seeger for 50 years.. and he told me you called him sometimes.. about this song..
Magical voice
If you love your work,, you'll never "work". My thirty years in education passed in the blink of an eye. I loved where I worked and the kids and teachers I worked with. ( most of them lol )
I wish this video was longer.....
Agree!
Really great memories, always my fav song The lion sleeps tonight. Congrats on anniversary, so happy to hear that. You truly look like a New Yorker, strong and confident. Thanks for the grand video. God Bless.
He wont even mention where they got the song from?!?! Wimoweh is serious a slap in the black mans face
weee needdd reporayshuns! ya dawg
I didn't hear one mention of Solomon Linda or wanting to know the origins of the original song and its artist, I have to wonder if Jay Siegel ever did pay credit and or praise for the song that helped bring him such huge success. If Jay Siegel hasn't heard of Solomon Linda and his family that lived in poverty whilst Jay was making millions alone with studio heads and anyone else that basked in the money that this song from Solomon Linda created, Then hears the opportunity to make shit right. czcams.com/video/qng3wUZ_ZM0/video.html
Wonderful and so moving.
Wimoweh became a great material for meme as well btw he was 72 at that time and he’s voice is so good and active...
dreams, can come true.....nuff said...
dude, this is cool
i love that song an im 70 years old
Nice story.