{{Short description|American musician and author (1942–2021)}} {{more citations needed|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Philip Margo | background = solo_singer | birth_date = {{birth date|1942|4|1}} | birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|11|13|1942|4|1}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | occupation = Musician, author, writer | genre = Pop | past_member_of = The Tokens }}
'''Philip Frederick Margo''' (April 1, 1942 – November 13, 2021) was an American musician and author who was a longtime member of the Tokens, along with his brother Mitch.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wynn |first=Ron |title=Biography: The Tokens |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p24018|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=17 May 2010 |publisher=AMG}}</ref> They are best known for their hit recording of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" which rose to #1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and remained there for three weeks in 1961.
==Biography == Margo was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 1, 1942, to Leon and Ruth (née Becker) Margules. He was of Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jewish origin from the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Russian Empire.
Margo authored the 2010 science fiction novel, ''The Null Quotient''.
He died at a hospital in Los Angeles, California, after suffering a stroke, on November 13, 2021, at the age of 79.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=Remember The Tokens of 'Lion Sleeps Tonight' Fame? |url=https://bestclassicbands.com/tokens-singing-group-philip-margo-mitch-jay-siegel-11-15-21/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Best Classic Bands |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="obiBillb">{{cite web |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=November 18, 2021 |title=Philip Margo, Singer on The Tokens' Hit 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight,' Dies at 79 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/philip-margo-obit-1234999195/ |access-date=November 18, 2021 |website=billboard.com}}</ref>
==The Tokens == In addition to his singing, Margo also played the drums. He performed with The Tokens on the following television programs: *''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' *''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' *''The Tracey Ullman Show''
==Record Production== With The Tokens, Margo was successful as a record producer for artists including the following: *The Chiffons *The Happenings *Tony Orlando & Dawn
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{discogs artist|Phil Margo}} * {{IMDb name|0546728}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Margo, Philip}} Category:1942 births Category:2021 deaths Category:American television writers Category:Musicians from Brooklyn Category:American male singers Category:Record producers from New York (state) Category:American soul singers Category:The Tokens members Category:Singers from New York City Category:Writers from Brooklyn Category:20th-century American drummers Category:American male drummers Category:Screenwriters from New York (state) Category:American male television writers Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:20th-century American Jews Category:21st-century American Jews Category:Drummers from New York City