The Tokens

The Tokens The Tokens were an American doo-wop and pop vocal group formed in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s, best known for their 1961 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (also called “Wimoweh”). Original members included Neil Sedaka (who left early for solo success), Hank Medress, Jay Siegel, Mitch Margo, and Phil Margo. After Sedaka’s departure, the core quartet signed with RCA Victor and recorded an upbeat, harmony-rich adaptation of the South African folk song “Mbube” (popularized by The Weavers as “Wimoweh”). Featuring Siegel’s high tenor lead and distinctive “a-wimoweh” chants, it topped charts for three weeks, sold millions, and became a global standard (later featured in Disney’s The Lion King). Follow-ups like “Tonight I Fell in Love” and “Please Write” charted modestly. The group continued recording and producing (e.g., for Tony Orlando) into the 1970s before disbanding. Medress died in 2007; Mitch Margo in 2017; Phil Margo in 2021. As of 2026, Jay Siegel leads a touring version of The Tokens, with occasional dates and nostalgia shows. Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, their joyful, exotic doo-wop adaptation remains one of the most recognizable songs of the early 1960s, bridging folk, pop, and world music influences.