All About The Magic Band (1974-1981)
Photo Gallery -
Band Lineups -
Discography
- Audio samples -
Where Are They Now?
The Story
Johnny Carroll started his career in 1958 with the
Ballintubber, Roscommon based Pioneer Showband (so named because all
of the band were non drinking Pioneers). They soon changed their
name to The Premier Aces and became one of the best known bands in
rural Ireland. In 1969, the Aces called it quits.
At that time Johnny, Jimmy O'Neill and Sonny Ward decided to form
their own band. They approached Glenamaddy's music mogul, Joe
O'Neill (Jimmy's brother), to help finance the band and Joe agreed.
The first lead singer the band had was Jim Nash, a 6'2" country
crooner from Tipperary. They released a record, Just Between You and
Me, and hit the road. However, Jim didn't last long with the band
and they soon needed a new lead vocalist and Joe suggested local cabaret singer,
Margaret Murphy and Murphy and The Swallows was born.
During the early 70's, the Swallows did very well on the country circuit. Still not
satisfied, Jimmy and Johnny started over yet again and switched from
country to pop in 1974. They brought together musicians from all
around the country including Joe Bernie (Leaders Showband and
Swingtime Aces) from Castlebar on sax, Gerry Gallagher (Ritchie
Fitzgerald Ceili Band and Sandy Duskey's Easy Listenin) from Sligo
on guitar, Frank Clancy (Stylos Showband and Gerry and the Ohio)
originally from Sligo but living in Tuam, on keyboards, John McKenna
(Silver Pennies) from Kingscourt on bass and Kevin Walsh, younger brother of the
Nevada's Willie Walsh from Drogheda on vocals. Mickey Belton,
drummer with The Swallows, and Johnny himself were the only
musicians kept from the old band. At this point Jimmy retired from
performing and became the band's road manager.
The
band came together in the Fall of 1974 and released their first
record, Neil Sedaka's Calendar Girl, which became a hit and
reached number four on the Irish Charts. The Magic idea was thought
up by Johnny and Joe O'Neil, who financed the design of a £2,000
"magic" suit, which was actually some 12 volt twinkling lights hook
up to a battery back. Magic also employed one of the country's first
wireless microphones, allowing him to roam the hall showing up in
the most "magical" places during the night, often down in the crowd.
The band did well on the dance circuit serving
up a mix of danceable pop as well as classics from the fifties by
Sedaka, Fats Domino and Paul Anka among others. The band was
featured on RTE's Ken's Club in early 1975 and continued to do well.
They released a second single, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen,
another Sedaka classic, which was on the Irish Charts for 7 weeks
and reached number 5.
For almost a year, the band remained unchanged,
but then the lineup began to change regularly. The first to leave
was John McKenna, who was replaced by Finny Thomas (RIP-Craughwell)
on bass. Gerry Gallagher was replaced by Mike Mannion (Glenamaddy)
on guitar.
Around 1976, two more original members, Joe
Bernie and Frank Clancy left the band. Frank was replaced by John
Murphy on keyboards, but the band did not add a sax player and went
to a six piece for the rest of its history. Also in 1976, Finny
Thomas left the band and Mike Mannion moved over to bass when they
added Gerry Kelly on guitar. During the mid to late seventies, other
musicians came and went including Dean Lane (Castlerea) on bass,
Don Woods from Drumshanbo (lead guitar), Portlaoise native, Eddie
Keating (rhythm guitar), Joe Beggy (guitar) and Gabriel Donohue from Athenry (guitar).
Although the band continued to change its
lineup throughout the seventies, the powerhouse vocal style of Magic
(a.k.a Kevin Walsh) kept the band growing and moving forward.
More chart singles followed including Run Samson Run (No.
11), Lend A Hand this Christmas (No. 6), and Reaching Out
(No. 9).
Finally, in late 1979, after five years on the road, Kevin called it
quits and moved to local cabaret in Galway. In his place, the band drafted Cornelius
"Con" Ward,
an eighteen year old from Donegal to step in and fill Magic's shoes,
which he did admirably. In fact, the singers had quit similar
voices. Cornelius had previously played with Geraldine and the
Cufflinks from Co. Donegal.
Around 1980/81, the band packed it in.
The ballroom scene had finally succumbed to the discos and hotel
extensions and Johnny Carroll went on the road as a solo act. As "The Man With
The Golden Trumpet," Johnny enjoyed a great deal of success over the next
20 plus years and still performs today. Kevin Walsh still performs locally around Galway
as does Joe Bernie, who released a CD a few years ago. Frank Clancy
runs a company in Tuam. Gerry Gallagher is still gigging around
Sligo and runs this website.
Photo
Gallery
Click on thumbnails for full images
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Kevin Walsh
(Magic): After moving to Galway from Drogheda, Kevin married and made his home in Galway.
After leaving the scene in 1979 he started singing on the
local cabaret scene around Galway. Today he works for a major international manufacturer in Galway, but still sings on a part time basis
around the area. |
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Johnny Carroll:
After the breakup of Magic,
Johnny went on the road as the Man With The Golden Trumpet
and never looked back. Having started in 1958 at the age of
13, in 2008 Johnny will celebrate 50 years of continuous
entertaining in and around Ireland and has seen it all! He
still plays regularly, although he has cut back a little on
his touring. He often plays outside the country these days
having recently been playing in Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong,
and Spain.
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Mickey Belton: Mickey
still play regularly in Galway with a variety of bands. He
does some session work, but his main gig is with the Black
Magic Band.
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Gerry
Gallagher: After leaving the Magic Band, Gerry returned
to Sligo and played locally with the local group Sundown
with Joe Foley and Dick Lynott for a few years. In 1978, he formed
The Kim Newport Band with his wife, Kim, along with Dick and
Joe. They
played from 1978 until 1983 when they called it quits and emigrated to the States.
He entered the business world and finally sold his company a couple
of years ago. Today he has returned to live in Sligo where he runs an
international entertainment production and licensing
company and plays with his band, Crossroads, doing weddings, pubs and
corporate gigs. |
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Frank Clancy: Franks
owns his own company in Tuam. |
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Joe Bernie: After
leaving the band, Joe continued to play music, but also
managed Star Records, a local music retail shop. He still
plays regularly in the Galway area, although he now lives in
Athenry after spending many years living in Galway. Joe
released a CD in 2005. |
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John McKenna: After
leaving Magic, John returned to his native Kingscourt and
has been playing music on the local scene for the past 30+
years, first with a pub group, but for the last few years as
a solo artist. |
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Finny Thomas: RIP
Finny emigrated to Canada after leaving the showband scene,
but sadly
Finny passed away some years ago. |
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Mike Mannion: Unknown - if you have info please email us |
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Dene Lane: Unknown - if you have info please email us |
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Gabriel Donohue:
Gabriel emigrated to the United States
after leaving the band and
now calls New Jersey home. He
usually performs throughout the New York area, although you
can catch him at many festivals along the east coast. In
addition to his solo albums, Gabriel has produced a variety
of recordings for other Irish artists and his talents are
often sought out to accompany artists in recording sessions.
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Cornelius Ward (Magic
II): Cornelius joined the Gardai after leaving the music
scene, but we understand he now lives and works in Galway in the
transportation business. |
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Gerry Kelly: Gerry's
career included stints with both Har and the Escorts and the
Pirates before Magic. He left the band to join Joe Dolan and
the Drifters where he stayed for seven years before leaving
the scene. He now lives in London. |
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John Murphy: Unknown - if you have info please email us |
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Joe Beggy: Joe had
done a short stint with Gloria and Mississippi before
joining Magic and after leaving, he went back to the local
pub scene in Navan. He went back to college and completed an
architectural course and works as a consultant today. He is
still playing with local groups. |
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Eddie Keating: Unknown - if you have info please email us |
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Don Woods: We
recently received an anonymous email informing us that Don
was current playing with Mike Denver's Band.
If you have any more info please email us |
