The Tokens

In the same year the band recorded its first single, "While I Dream", with Sedaka on lead vocals; the song was a local hit in New York.

[7] Jay Siegel was the lead vocalist on all the Tokens' hits including "I Hear Trumpets Blow" (1966) and "Portrait of My Love" (1967).

[2] Beginning in 1963, the Tokens also began working as record producers for other artists, such as the Chiffons, Randy & the Rainbows and the Happenings.

[2] In 1968, The Tokens released the experimental "Animal", intended to serve as lead single for a self-produced album entitled Intercourse.

However, the single flopped and Warner Bros. Records rejected the album due to its uncommercial nature and sexual overtones, and so in 1971 the band privately pressed 200 copies of Intercourse through B.T.

In 1972, Jay Siegel did background vocals for a re-recording of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" with Robert John as the lead vocalist.

[2] In 1970, Hank Medress began producing an act for Bell Records, Dawn, which featured the former teen idol Tony Orlando.

In 1973, Medress ended his relationship with the Tokens and Siegel teamed with the Margo Brothers to form the group Cross Country, which had some success with its cover version of "In the Midnight Hour".

[2] The Tokens occasionally reunited during 1975 as singing regulars on the Adam Wade-hosted game show Musical Chairs and in 1978 recorded "A Victim of Gravity" for ABC's Schoolhouse Rock.

[15] Bass singer Bill Reid of Jay Siegel's Tokens suffered a heart attack on April 11, 2022, and died shortly afterwards.

To this day, the Tokens claim that some of the original musical composition of the 1961 song was created by them, even though they have not been awarded this status by their record company.

In 1998, the Tokens were mentioned by the Guinness World Records for performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the United States and Canada.