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Bobby Hatfield's Death

Bobby Hatfield

The life and death of Bobby Hatfield:

He was known for "blue eyed soul", sounding like a black gospel singer. He and his partner Bill Medley were told their singing with "righteous." So they were famously known as "The Righteous Brothers" and had several major hits. But he died on the road before one of the act's shows.

Robert Lee Hatfield hailed from Wisconsin, born in Beaver Dam and raised there until he reached the age of four. That's when his family moved to sunny Southern California, to Anaheim, the future home of Disneyland.

He played baseball and sang in the choir at Anaheim High School and for a while wanted to be a professional baseball player. But he decided on a career in music career.

Bobby Hatfield high school photo

He met his partner Bill Medley while attending California State University.

Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley

They started as part of a five member group called "The Paramours" but changed their name to the "Righteous s Brothers" and had their first hit with "Little Latin Lupe Lu."

The big time beckoned with the Phil Spector produced "You've lost that Lovin' Feelin".

They followed with another Number One hit, "Soul and Inspiration."

And Bobby's recording of "Unchained Melody" was not only a hit on the music charts. It was also a key part of the movie "Ghost", starring Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze.

The Righteous Brothers" stopped performing together in 1968, but got back together and had yet another hit in 1974, "Rock & Roll Heaven."

Rock & Roll Heaven

The act was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in March, 2003.

Bobby was married briefly to dancer Joy Ciro and they had two children, Bobby Jr. and Kalin.

He married his second wife Linda in 1979.

Bobby Hatfield with his wife, Linda

They were married until he died and had two children, Vallyn and Dustin.

In November, 2003, hours before a scheduled Righteous Brothers concert, Bobby died at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. A toxicology report said a cocaine overdose caused his fatal heart attack.

Bobby Hatfield toxicology report

And the initial autopsy found Bobby had advanced coronary diseases, with significant blockage of coronary arteries.

Bobby Hatfield grave

He's buried at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California.

Singers