Soul group Magnificent Men come to age on big screen
William Penn Senior High students view a trailer of 'This Magnificent Moment,' a documentary of the 1960s soul band The Magnificent Men, compiled by social historian David Zang of Towson, Md. The short film included samples of the all-white band's music and interviews with band members who played black venues in Philadelphia, New York and Detroit.
The Mag Men was one of the most successful bands with ties to York in the 1960s.
They scored a recording contract with Capitol records. They played soul music in venues where black musicians were denied. And they played locations where black musicians were accepted including the Apollo Theater in Harlem, including a set backing James Brown.
Now, those seeking to restoke memories of the soul band can see a trailer of an upcoming documentary on the group at mag men. (If you want to discuss the group and trailer, see exchange.)
Dave Bupp and Buddy King, homegrown members of the group, were inducted into the William Penn High School Hall of Fame. Bupp, 64, graduated in 1960, and King, 59, graduated in 1965.
A York Daily Record story on their induction into the William Penn High School Hall of Fame in 2006 follows: ...
When racial lines divided cities and towns across the country in the latter half of the 1960s, there was a group of young white men who could easily traverse those boundaries. Race didn’t matter, Dave Bupp said. “I just wanted the chance to sing the music I loved.”Tuesday, Bupp and Buddy King, members of the soul band The Magnificent Men, were inducted into the William Penn High School Hall of Fame.
“It validates my whole career,” said Bupp, 64, who graduated in 1960. “It means more to me than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s something I wanted for a long time.”
King, 59, said after the ceremony in the high school auditorium that it was “a great honor.”
“It’s humbling more than anything,” he said. “It’s amazing how much the group meant to so many people.”
The Mag Men, as they were known locally, formed in the mid-’60s after club owners refused to book biracial bands, according to social historian David Zang of Towson, Md. The band, which included Jim Seville, Bob Angelucci, Terry Crousare, Tom Hoover and Tom Payne, sang and played the soul music that was the property of black musicians.
But because of its talent, the all-white band was readily accepted by black audiences, Zang said. And during that time period it was the only white band to headline the soul venues that made up the “chitlin’ circuit,” a string of theaters and clubs that catered to black clientele, Zang said.
The Magnificent Men went on to sign a recording contract with Capitol records and played the Apollo Theater in Harlem, including a set backing James Brown.
Tuesday, before offering Bupp and King for induction into the hall, Zang played a trailer for a documentary he is compiling of the band, “This Magnificent Moment.” The students’ applause, which had been polite earlier, was louder after the seven-minute film that sketched the life, sound and successes of the band.
The response was more clamorous after King closed his acceptance speech by crooning “Dear Old York High,” the song he wrote for his graduating class of 1965.
Bridgette Samuels, a William Penn senior who chairs the Hall of Fame committee, said afterwards that the Magnificent Men received numerous nominations from the public after the 2005 hall induction. She said the nominators included brief biographies of the band members and a CD with samples of the band’s music.
“I liked it,” she said.
“This is an honor beyond description,” Bupp said. “When they called and told me I was in, I broke into tears.”
The original members of the Magnificent Men disbanded in 1970, although with others in the lineup the group continued to record until 1987. The Magnificent Men perform twice a year at the York Expo Center to packed houses, King said.
“We had a lot of fun at a time of great chaos in this country,” he said.
For details on other celebrities from York County see: Craig Sheffer, Dixie Chick et al
darrell criswell · March 10, 2007 11:57 AM
Do you know when the documentry will be released and where you can obtain a copy?
I remember these guys from the 615 lounge on East Market Strret in the late 60's.
Clair Eisenhart · March 11, 2007 9:36 AM
Congratulations to all the Mag Men. Hello, especially to Dave Bupp. Where does Dave live now? I remember all so well when Dave worked in the ice cream freezer for me at Eisenhart's Dairy. His mother and dad also worked at the dairy. A family that was part of those were the days my friend.
Paul Fogel · January 3, 2008 6:36 PM
I am Dr. Paul Fogel, co-founder of THE TEMPTONES with Daryl Hall. I am trying to reach Dave Bupp. From the "MEN"
Original Temptone , Brian Utain ,and I, and the former Musical Director of the group , The Rip Chords, Dr. Bob Rush, are planning to reunite the Temptones and are searching for just the right voices (2) to join us here in Bucks County just outside Philly. We have ties that go far back to the Uptown performances and would like to re-establish the group for some shows and possibly the cruise circuit. Our problem is, we cannot find white guys that know the music of OUR era and how to sing it. I have been working as a vocalist for 40 years and have always dreamed of putting the group back together . Without Daryl it does become harder but we have plenty of help from local musicians. To reunite as The Temptones , we think there would be a "BOOMER" market at this point in time. It's all in the timing. If we delay the window of opportunity will close. We are older but able. I still work most weekends.
If you can, would you please ask Dave to contact me. He knows who I am.
Since the recent death of one of our group, Barry Glazer , we feel that it would be a fitting tribute to re-unite whoever can carry on. The world might be ready again for some great Blue-eyed Soul. Maybe ! We never made as many records as we wanted to but we were there with the Mag Men at The Uptown and lived that story. We were especially close with the Temptations as you know. If you know our history then you know that I left the group in 65 to enlist in the Air Force for Nam...The group met the Temps because I introduced them to The Vibrations while I was stationed in Myrtle Beach. The Vibrations took them to the Uptown to meet the Temps.
The rest is history
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Fogel
Jim McClure · January 11, 2008 4:29 PM
You can address queries about the Mag Men at their Web site: mag men.
Jim McClure
William Swift · February 3, 2008 12:36 PM
I have known Tom Hoover for about 14 years and hve heard him talk about mag men band he was in, but didn't know how successful they were.What I am really writing about is to let the other band members know that he passed away January 20th 2008. He will be greatly missed. He was a great guy. Bill
Bill Cramer · February 5, 2008 2:56 PM
Dr Paul Fogel,
I was the drummer, lead singer with a blue-eyed soul group called The Nu-Tones, from Phoenixville. We played with you guys in Pottstown, I think it was at the old Club 1000 on High Street. I would be interested in speaking with you about singing.
john pugh · March 4, 2008 7:41 AM
The Magnificent Mens (and The Temptones) songs have been played on the northern soul scene in the UK & beyond for the last 40 years, I've always hoped to see them live, preferably at an All-Niter.
Being a collector first and a dj second I enjoy both the slowies and the uptempo songs. Amongst my personal faves are the dance floor winners "All Your Lovings Gone To My Head", "I Got News","Forever Together", and the excellent album only (?) dancers "Keep On Climbing" and "Walk in My Shoes".
I have many questions that I'd like to ask someone from the group, but cant find a way to contact them & currently the web site link isn't working (for example does anyone know if The Magnificent 7's songs "Never Will I Make My Baby Cry" and also "She's Called A Woman " are by the same group, an earlier incarnation of the Mag Men perhaps? - either way they are both fab tracks and the vocals sound similar)
If the Temptones member reads this do you by any chance have a spare 45 copy of "Girl I Love You", I love the song and would dearly love one for my collection and to dj with :-)
The Nu-Tones? I'm told I would love to hear "Easy Way To Love" which was recorded by this group I believe? also I know of a 45 I've desperately wanted for close to 30 years by Johnny Rogers & The Nu-Tones called " Make A Change" on Amon records. Would this be the same group?
if anyone can help with any of these queries please mail
records@sky.com
many thanks,
cheers
john
Jim McClure · March 4, 2008 3:39 PM
I just tried the Web link, in this post and it was working. Generally, the Web site lists David Zang as the Mag Men's contact: dzang@towson.edu.
Jim McClure
Louis McKinney, Sr · April 8, 2008 12:40 AM
I just wanted to stop by and just say the Mag Men did something for York and Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania in general that was needed. Yes, they were the Del-Cords originally but because of situations beyond their control, they trasformed into the Mag Men, and the rest is history. But I really enjoyed singing in York High with Buddy and his sister Diane.....Hope to see you again real soon, take care, Lou
Dr. Paul Fogel aka Paul Jerome · May 29, 2008 5:44 PM
If any of you are interested, and answered the above are still interested in the Temptones just e-mail me
Paul
posted May 29,2008
Dr. Paul Fogel aka Paul Jerome · May 29, 2008 5:47 PM
Temptones1@verizon.net