Bill Medley still remains a legendary figure in the music business, distinguishable by his sonorous baritone voice. The singer stepped into the spotlight in the 60s as one-half of the two-man band, the Righteous Brothers that created amazing hit songs like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin”‘ and “Unchained Melody”. Outside of his achievements with the Righteous Brothers, Medley also had a remarkable solo career, collaborating with some of the industry’s biggest names.
Sadly, the musician was faced with a devastating medical challenge which made fans and the music world wonder if they would ever hear him sing again. Yet, true to his resilient spirit, the 84-year-old has overcome the disease, and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and passion as he makes spectacular career move that has amazed his fans and the music industry entirely.
Bill Medley was scared about his career after getting throat cancer diagnosis
The musician who had earlier in 1974 almost lost his voice when he was diagnosed with Laryngitis shortly after splitting with his bandmate, Bobby Hatfield, was faced with another ailment that threatened to silence him for life. In 2017, Medley was diagnosed with throat cancer, which left him highly devastated as he was afraid that his career was over.
Medley underwent surgery in May 2020 to have the tumor removed, thus his vocal cords, which had previously been described by his doctor as “hamburger meat,” was saved.
Bill Medley releases new music despite previous throat cancer diagnosis
In the years following the surgery, Medley has shown no sign of slowing down as he has continued with his craft, performing at several tours all over the country. Also, the musician recently announced the release of his new country album, Straight from the Heart, which contains covers from prominent musicians such as Kris Kristofferson and Hank Williams. The album, which is his first in almost two decades, stands as a proof of his commitment to his passion.
In an interview with The Guardian, Medley reflected on the personal connection he felt to the songs he sampled for his album. He revealed that having experienced significant challenges and setbacks throughout his life, he resonated with the themes of the songs, as he believed that his personal journey through adversity would enable him to bring a genuine and heartfelt quality to his renditions.