Bill Medley, the surviving member of The Righteous Brothers duo, is constantly amazed at the longevity and lingering appeal of "blue-eyed soul."

Medley helps launch the 2005-06 Honolulu Pops concert series, joining the Honolulu Symphony tonight and Saturday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. He turns 65 on Sept. 19.

His partner in The Righteous Brothers, Bobby Hatfield, died in November 2003, at age 63. Hatfield sang the lead in the "Unchained Melody," and Hatfield's passing certainly made Medley stop and think about what came next.

"I never thought about stopping," Medley said in a phone interview from Louisville, Ky., last week. "But I thought about retooling. Bobby's passing was a big deal; he was proud, as I am, of being a Righteous Brother."

The Righteous Brothers became a phenom when their signature "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' " hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1964.

Other hits followed over the next decade; the group's songs also have been prominently featured in films, including "Ghost," which rekindled the popularity of "Unchained Melody" in 1990.

About two years ago, Medley released a blues album, "Your Heart to Mine," doing covers of people and music he loved and grew up with, and also wrote an original, "This Will Be the Last Time." Otherwise, his repertoire still soars with Righteous tunes such as "Soul and Inspiration," "Just Once in My Life" and, of course, "Lovin' Feelin' " and "Unchained Melody."

We asked him Five Questions:

Q. How often do you perform with a symphony orchestra?

A. Probably about 10 times this year; I would like to do more — it's a nice diversion, so musical. It's really legitimate music and a lot of fun.

Q. How often do you tour these days — and does it get easier with time?

A. It's all about pacing; you pick and choose. It's not like the old days, when we were younger.

The first time without Bobby was odd, however, kind of an out-of-body experience. I'd been called to fill in for somebody, and I went and did it, after Bobby died, and it was horrible. Way too soon. Real hard, after being attached to him for 42 years. After all, he had that great voice; on stage, he was very humorous, funny. I miss that very much. I've done shows, with video, celebrating (his life), and that's been fun.

Q. With Bobby gone, how much of The Righteous Brothers music can you do?

A. Quite a bit of it; as much material as I can. I was kind of fortunate; I sang the melodies to most of the stuff. Oddly enough, Bobby sang (solo on) "Unchained Melody," but I do it now in shows.

It's the song that wouldn't die; it was a pretty good-sized hit in '65 and it was bigger than ever when it came back in "Ghost." You gotta do it.

Q. What have you learned from your alliance with Bobby?

A. That life is so fragile, every day is a gift. I think Bobby's only problem, with health, was that he didn't ever go to the doctor; after he died, it was found that he had three or four totally clogged arteries.

As his partner, I knew he was out of shape; he smoked, he drank, he didn't exercise at all. That's the recipe for trouble. I'd ask him to go to the doctor, because he'd be out of breath, and he didn't. So I know you have to watch your health.

Q. Why do you suppose that your old music keeps returning and reconnecting with fans?

A. Maybe I'll sound like an old fart, but I think it's got to do with our songs having more meaning.

I mean, lyrically, ours was a more simple, honest time, that spoke to the heart. That's why the music refuses to die; the (pop) songs now have gotten so thin and lean, you look to the old for meaning. And our music now appeals to a range of people, our original fans and some younger ones, thanks to exposure in films.

Besides "Ghost," we've done well in the movies. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' " fared well in "Top Gun," and I had a song ("The Time of My Life") with Jennifer Warnes in "Dirty Dancing."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.