If you’ve seen the blockbuster movies “Top Gun” or “Ghost,” then you know the long-lasting cinematic power of The Righteous Brothers songs “You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin” and “Unchained Melody.”
If you’ve seen “Dirty Dancing,” you’re familiar with the multiple award-winning “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” a duet by Righteous Brother Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
Or if you’ve listened to the radio at all since the 1960s, you’ve heard Righteous Brothers’ songs multiple times.
You can hear all of those songs and many more live during an appearance by The Righteous Brothers in Waterville.
The blue-eyed soul duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield formed The Righteous Brothers in 1963, and a string of hits quickly followed.
In 1968, Medley and Hatfield parted ways to pursue solo careers. Then in 1974, they reunited and scored another hit with “Rock and Roll Heaven.”
Billy Joel inducted The Righteous Brothers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003. On Nov. 5 of that same year, Hatfield died at the age of 63.
Medley continued to play music, but not under The Righteous Brothers name.
That was, until he heard and befriended singer Bucky Heard. In 2016, the duo starting performing as The Righteous Brothers.

During a conversation from Las Vegas, Medley, 85, sang the praises of Heard and talked about the importance of connecting with fans.
I know The Righteous Brothers opened for Kenny Rogers at a Portland concert in 1983. What’s your take on Maine?
I just know that we love the area, and I remember being there with Kenny. I think that Bobby and I probably worked there when we were younger. I can remember that because we loved that area a lot. We were always excited about going back there.
Will you enjoy some lobster while you’re here?
No, I will not, I’m not a fish guy at all.
Did you know that the band Lake Street Dive often plays a recording of “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” for fans while they leave concerts?
I don’t know that group, but I certainly know that the song conjures up a lot of good energy and good vibes.
What’s the backstory of the song?
Jimmy Ienner (music supervisor) said, “We want you to sing,” and I said I can’t, my wife is expecting our child and I promised her that I would be there. I asked what the movie was and when he said “Dirty Dancing,” I said that sounds like a bad porno movie, I don’t know if I could do that. But then Paula, my wife, had our child McKenna who, oddly enough, now is on the road with The Righteous Brothers and she sings the song with me.
Can you talk about inviting Bucky Heard to join the band?
I had people telling me that I should reform The Righteous Brothers, people want to hear that music. Bucky started doing a tribute to Journey ,and I went in and saw it and he just killed it. I was taking a walk the next day and I said if I was going to reform The Righteous Brothers, he would be the guy. He was really shocked and amazed and excited about the whole thing, and he’s been wonderful.
Are there are pre-show rituals that you and Bucky do?
Right before we go on stage we hug each other and Bucky kisses me on the cheek, I kiss him on the cheek and I say “touch somebody.” That’s what we always hear when we go out to sign autographs, people will tell us these stories of how The Righteous Brothers music really was important to them, and helped them in a bad time or a good time. It is still very important to us. We love to meet people because they tell us such wonderful stories. As one of the singers, you don’t know. I don’t know that somebody in Maine is being touched by our music.
What’s the meaning behind singing a Simon & Garfunkel song during the show?
We do a special dedication to veterans. Our music was really big in the middle of the ’60s, and it made its way over to Vietnam. Many veterans come up to us and thank us for making their life a little more comfortable over there. I didn’t want to feel corny about what we were doing and sing something like “God Bless America.” So I decided to do “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and I say, “This should have been America’s promise to you guys, we should have been your bridge over troubled water and brought you home.”
When you see someone in the audience light up when you start a song like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” how does that make you feel?
If I had to sing it in the shower every night I’d probably hang myself. But when you’re on stage and you go, “You never close your eyes…” you can see the love. It just takes you back to the beginning. I feel like I’m 25 years old. I’ve always told Bucky that doing a concert is like your first date. You’re gonna dress the best you can, you’re gonna try and and say the funny things and you’re gonna try not to have gas. So every time you go on stage, it feels like the first time. What really keeps The Righteous Brothers going is the love that the audience gives us.
IF YOU GO
7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27. Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St., $105-$115. watervillecreates.org.
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