A Righteous Cause Makes for a Night to Remember

Sure, they’re past their prime and have some trouble reaching the tough notes on occasion. But for more than 30 years now, the music of Santa Ana’s own Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield--the Righteous Brothers--has endured because of its timeless quality. Built on strong melodies, powerful lead and harmony vocals, and the pair’s passion for soul and R&B;, this act has aged with style and grace.

Still, at a sold-out benefit concert Monday night at Music City (a club, formerly known as the Hop, that Medley used to own), the music took a backseat to a more important matter. The night really belonged to Butch Rillera, the Brothers’ old drummer who has been sidelined by a brain aneurysm, a stroke and pneumonia. Rillera, who was in the audience, took home an estimated $11,000 to help pay his medical bills.

Accordingly, a spirit of warmth, generosity and friendship fueled Monday’s thoroughly entertaining 75-minute show. Relaxed and conversational in front of about 300 folks, Hatfield and Medley, both 56, seemed to charm the faithful, whether poking fun at their advancing years (“Here’s a song we recorded about 300 years ago”), pining for the good old days (“How many of you were raised on real rock ‘n’ roll, not the kind with purple hair and nose rings?”) or impressively belting out the best of their blue-eyed soul classics.

Unlike some oldies acts that toss out their big hits in cursory or abbreviated fashion, the Brothers still seem inspired by their most popular work. As he sang his impassioned, Grammy-winning rendition of “Unchained Melody,” Hatfield seemed to reached down deep inside of himself to share all his soul and inspiration.

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Powered by the still-spine-tingling blend of Hatfield’s sweet tenor and Medley’s rich baritone, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ ,” which in 1965 was their first No. 1 hit, and “Just Once in My Life” brought down the house.

The old hits weren’t the only golden moments. There was Medley’s tribute to Ray Charles, which climaxed with a gutsy version of “I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You”; “Little Latin Lupe Lu,” with Lee Farrell’s stellar saxophone offering a lesson in high-spirited sass; and the R&B; standard “Sick and Tired,” which showcased dazzling guitar licks by Butch’s older brother, Barry Rillera.

With music that good, the Brothers even could be forgiven for including “Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven,” their schmaltzy reunion hit from 1974. The show ended on a much higher note, with fans singing, clapping and dancing to faithful versions of “Let the Good Times Roll” and Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Righteous, indeed.