Tell me about the Mag 7
Question: There used to be a musical group called the Magnificent Seven from Lexington that played in the 60s. Did they ever make records and are they still playing together as a group?
Answer: I talked to Tony Stallard, who started the group in 1959. He says the group is no longer playing together and that they were first called “The Temptashuns” but had to change the name in 1965 to the Magnificent Seven because of that other group called “The Temptations”. The original group stopped playing together in 1968, but before they did, they had recorded eight records (that would be the old 45 rpms) on five different labels. One record made by the group called “Stubborn Kind Of Fellow” got a four-star rating by Billboard Magazine, according to Stallard. Stallard says that he didn’t even know how to play an instrument, except the piano, but taught himself how to play guitar but eventually played organ for the group. Their actual first gig was on March 1961 for a girl’s social club out of Henry Clay High School called the Pipers of Pan, where they played at one member’s house. Before the year was out, they had played 54 times for both paying and non-paying audiences. They started out playing rock and roll but their music evolved to a hot soul and rhythm-and-blues sound. They had as many as eleven members but usually played only with seven. The group had a reunion in February 2001 and played at the Blue Moon Saloon in Chevy Chase.
Linda Niemi
Filed under: Uncategorized
My mother was a public school librarian. I earned a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Kentucky. The Herald-Leader hired me as a news assistant 25 years ago; soon after, I moved to the news research department, where I’ve been ever since. We used to clip newspapers. Now, almost all of our research is online. We've come a long way.
I HAD THE PRIVILEDGE TO WORK WITH THE LEAD VOCALIST OF THE MAG 7, LARRY ORR, AS A GUITARIST WITH “HICKORY SMOKE” IN THE EARLY 1970′S. TWO MEMBERS OF THAT BAND, MARLIN HARGIS, (KEYBOARDS) AND DANNY WILLIAMS (BASS GUITAR) WENT ON TO PLAY WITH EXILE AND PERFORMED AND RECORDED ON THEIR FIRST HIT “KISS YOU ALL OVER”. AT ONE TIME LARRY AND PHIL COPELAND PERFORMED TOGETHER (WITH ME) IN A BAND, “MEZZEPA”, AROUND THE LEXINGTON AREA (AT THE JOCKEY CLUB AND THE WAREHOUSE, DOWNTOWN). THE TWO HAD DIFFERENT MUSICAL DIRECTIONS AND THE BAND DISBANDED AFTER A SHORT TIME.
AFTER MEZZEPA LARRY AND I FORMED HICKORY SMOKE AND WORKED FOR SEVERAL YEARS RECORDING PROJECTS IN NASHVILLE WITH GARY S. PAXTON AND RON HELLARD.
PHIL WENT ON TO ENJOY REGIONAL COMMERCIAL SUCCESS WITH HIS GIFTED VOCAL TALENT, AND IS VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE KENTUCKY AND NATIONAL MUSIC SCENE.
AFTER HICKORY SMOKE BROKE UP IN THE MID SEVENTIES, LARRY WENT ON TO BECOME THE OWNER OF AN ADVERTISING AGENCY IN MEMPHIS AND HAS ENJOYED A LUCRATIVE CAREER THERE.
AS MS. NIEMI STATED IN HER PIECE THE MAG 7 PERFORMED AT THE BLUE MOON SALOON IN FEB 2001, WHICH LEAD TO A REUNIOUN OF BOTH THE MAG 7 AND TORQUES IN A PERFORMANCE AT LEGION FIELD IN LEXINGTON SEVERAL YEARS AGO FRONTING THE MONKEYS! ……..WHAT A SHOW!
THE TORQUES CONTINUE TO PERFORM TODAY AND HAVE MOST ALL ORIGINAL MEMBERS.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MAG 7 HAVE PASSED AWAY:
JOHN BURROWS, TRUMPET, TROMBONE AND FLUGLEHORN.
BOBBY MACAW, GUITAR AND VOCALS.
PAUL MILLION, TROMBONE.
SOME ARE STILL AROUND.
LARRY ORR - (ORIGINAL VOCALIST)
MEADE BROWN, DRUMS
DOUG HAMMOND, SAX
RANDY EVANS, KEYBOARDS
CARTER HACKNEY, GUITAR
TOM TRUAX, BASS GUITAR
TONY STALLARD, ORGAN
CHARLIE SHOOK, LEAD VOCALS
The Mag 7 (originally the Temptashuns) were one of three main bands in Lexington during the 60’s. The others were the Classics and the Torques. The Classics booked with Joni Agency of Louisville and the Torques and Mag 7 booked with Cecil Jones of Lexington.
Larry Orr, the lead for the Mag 7 was origionally with The Nightcrawlers out of Louisville and John Burrows was with the Mystics (if I recall).
I was the drummer for the Classics along with Bobby McCaw (founder, vocals and lead guitar), Gary Nelson (founder, vocals and tenor saxaphone), Thad Jaracz (rhythm guitar and vocals), Tom Borg (lead vocals), Pat Beasley (lead vocals), Ralph Fogle (baritone saxaphone), Richard Peck (organ) and Wayne Bogle (organ), and Pete Stoner (bass) and Don McMillen (bass).
After the Classics I went to the Casuals out of Nashville for a period before joining the Air Force (where I was stationed on the same base as Larry)
Larry left the Mag 7 and became an officer in the USAF. After military he was in advertising for 25 years in Memphis and is now a realtor in Alabama.
From the other side of the microphone. The talented members of the Mag 7 and the Torques were gods to those of us who played in our own local bands. Meade Brown could do more with one hand than anything we could muster with two. Best show for me was when the Mag 7 and Soul Incorporated appeared together. The Mag 7 closed with a rousing and unexpected Hendrix tune-Foxy Lady or Fire…hey, I’m old…some things I forget. Hendrix songs were the territory of Soul Incorporated and it blew us away.
The Mag 7’s recording of “Take Me On” is one of the best songs of the era.
Dont know if any old timers are around , anyone remember the “BATTLE of the Bands”, I think it was at the Red Mail, Torques and Mag 7 , went at it.
I played in a band from around Willamstown The Blue Souls, we played at the old Fireplace Exiles would play a couple of sets so would we.
Phil Copeland , sang with us for a while, we billed ourselfs ad the “new torgues” anybody remember that??
brings back a lot of memories.
I remember the “Battle of the Bands at the Red Mile Trotting Track. It was usually hosted by local disc jockey Denny Mitchell (who later passed away from throat cancer). I remember competing against The Exiles (as they were known then, with the late Jimmy Stokley as lead singer (who originally recorded “Kiss You All Over) and winning! (The Exiles became “Exile” and changed to the Country sound after Jimmy’s death)
Memories are still with us, eh?
Meade Brown formed a touring group of his own using various members of local Lexington bands. The band was call Superband. It booked out of ABC in Chicago and played mostly in Boston and Miami lots of members at different times
Meade was on drums
Singer Charlie Schook, Glen Perkins, Cecil Mealings
Earl Grigsby, Jerry Holiday base
Bobby McCaw Guitar
Dick Stables, CB Spicer Sax
Paul Millun Trombone
Ray Ashmore Screech Trumpet
Steve Emberson Trumpet
Danny Sexton Piano
Ken Dozier B3
Opened for: 3 Dog Night freedom Hall Louisville
Opened for: Little Feat Reflections Cincinnati
Backed Sherrells Miami and Boston
Backed Bo Diddly Paul’s Mall Boston
im a old bassplayer friend of tom truax last saw him in florida 1971 would appreciate anyone knowing his present location,phone number ,email or address to email me that info
can anyone tell me why jimmy stokley died? I can find no informations anywhere ..
thanks a lot, F.
found an old newspaper article about ‘The castaways’ in the Georgetown Paper. Players included Bill Cassity, Rickey Carroll, Bob Hawkins, Tom Truax, Nick Mcfarland, Tom Griffin, Bill Gavagni & Steve Evans. These names bring back any memories ??
Francesca:
My brother, Billy Luxon, was a founding member of The Exiles. Jimmy Stokley was infected with Hepatis C when he was in his early 20’s. I recall all of the other members of the band had to get gamma globulin injections because they had been around Jimmy at the time. By the time Jimmy was around 40 (in the early 80’s) his liver began to fail and he ultimately died of liver failure in August, 1985.
OH MY GOSH!!! The CASTAWAYS…Remember all those guys…used to date one of them. They used to play at the old VFW or American Legion Bld. upstairs…what fun we had those days…would love to read the article if you could email it to me.
I would like to know where is Marlin Hargin of Excile at this time Jim Stokley & JD Pennington do they still record with another band
Being an entertainer myself (magician), These stories always interest me. I grew up around Lexington in Nicholasville, and remeber Superband. Glen Perkins was my cousin, he passed away years ago. Tom Griffin of the Castaways is my father in law. He is still a very talented musician, but plays only for family. I would love to hear from anyone involved with his old band, the castaways. My email is markmagic@aol.com
Thanks!
Mark