The Tokens

A vocal group who first emerged in the doo wop era in the 1950s, the Tokens achieved their greatest fame when "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," their cover of a South African folk song, became a major hit in 1961. The group would never have another record go to number one, but their skillful vocal blend and savvy approach to material (adding folk and sophisticated pop accents to their doo wop harmonies) made them a popular live act into the 21st century, and 1994's Wimoweh: The Best of the Tokens documents their hit-making era. As the '60s wore on, psychedelic pop began informing their music, and they launched their own record label, producing their own releases as well as those for other artists, a period summed up on The Very Best of the Tokens 1964-1967.