"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" has a long history. The Tokens performed it in their audition for RCA and copied their version from a former recording by The Weavers of "Wimoweh." The Weavers got their version from a 1939 recording of a South African folk tune. RCA producers gave the song a new name and English lyrics. The Tokens, headed by Hank Medress, had begun in 1955 at Lincoln High School in the Bronx as the Linc-Tones (and included Neil Sedaka at the time). The 1961 lineup was Medress, Jay Siegel, and Phil and Mitch Margo. The group was glad to get the RCA recording contract but really didn't want "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" to be released -- they were embarrassed by its sound. But RCA insisted. The record reached #1 on December 18 and stayed there until the end of the year. The song would be revived in 1972 by Robert John and rise to #3. In 1994 it would be featured in the Disney film, "The Lion King" and again in the Broadway play in 1997. In all of this, the original South African writer, Solomon Linda, got no credit (and no money) -- until a law suit was finally settled in 2006. The Tokens' version of the song features a drum roll that serves as a very good hook and a high soprano counter point by opera singer, Anita Darian.