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Magnum  1978-1994   Allentown, PA
Magnum is a rock band based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Their career spans about four decades and they performed over 3500 shows on the East Coast in premier venues of all levels. From night clubs to festivals and concert venues. Magnum was trailblazers who were one of the first American bands benefiting from corporate sponsorship in Miller's Rock Band Network. An early DIY band from the get go, releasing singles, EPs and albums that were favorably reviewed by Billboard Magazine and achieving East Coast air play and live performances on cable network shows. Their popularity earned them direct support slots for artists such as Hall & Oates, The Ramones, Survivor... including Spring Break events in Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Summer residencies at the Jersey Shore. The band amassed a huge loyal following and were honored by being #1 on several radio station rock polls who also endorsed the band's recordings. The band still performs occasionally for reunions and in 2018 they celebrated their 40th anniversary.



Founding Members:


Steve Weiss - Guitar, Vocals (1978 - 1980)
Lonnie Warner - Keys, Vocals (1978 - 1994)
Dave Werkhiser - Drums, Vocals (1978 - 1994)
Charley Lippincott - Lead Vocals, Guitar (1978 - 1979)
Butch Samolewicz - Bass, Vocals (1978 - 1985)


Subsequent Members:


1980s Members
Tommy Zito - Keys, Vocals (1980 - 1986)
Michael DeFrank - Guitar, Vocals (1982 - 1994)
Kent Warner - Bass, Vocals (1985 - 1987)
Robert Mason - Lead Vocals, Guitar (1988 - 1989)
Rory Castellano - Bass (1988 - 1990)




Noteable Highlights:


-Voted #1 rock band, in the WZZO-FM Z-95 Annual Rock Poll in both 1979 and 1980.
-The band's first singles "Fun and Games? & "Rock and Roll Man" were produced by Billy Terrell



Hot Nights
1. "Hot Nights"
2. "Public Memory #1"
3. "Second Chance"
4. "Unanswered Love"
5. "Video Girl"



No Secrets
1. "Breaking Point"
2. "Betrayed"
3. "Forever Ended Yesterday"
4. "2 Sides of Love"
5. "I've Got Your Number"
6. "Angela"
7. "Prisoners of Fortune"
8. "You Could Have Told Me"























Venues Played:


CLUBS & LOUNGES
The Gables - NJ
Rock Bottom - NJ
Oakhurst Cafe - NJ
Bill Daniels Rock Palace - PA
Heister's Lounge - PA
Tiger Tail - NJ
Silo - PA
Red Rooster NJ
Jason's Place - PA
Red Maple Inn - PA
Mother's - NJ
Smile's -NJ
The Alley - PA
Bayshores - NJ
Firehouse Lounge - PA
Riverside - NJ
Four Winds - PA
Vernon's Tavern - PA
Saylor's lAke Tavern - PA
Conn's Garden Club - PA
Lighthouse - PA
Silver Dollar - NJ
Gallagher's Wooden Nickel - PA
Old Colony - PA
Shady Lane - NJ
Yock & Jay's - NJ
Aquarius Lounge - NJ
Fernwood - PA
Starburst Lounge -PA
Lighthouse - PA
Harrigan's - PA
Governor's Inn - NJ
Chatterbox - NJ
Miseracordia College - PA
Castle Inne - NJ
The Nook - NJ

SCHOOL & MISC. EVENTS
Ice-A-Rama - PA
Weex Community Spirit Day - PA
CYC - PA
Stroudsbug Mall - PA
Easton Area High School - PA
Warren Hills High School - NJ
Temple University - PA
Centenary College - NJ
Liberty High School - PA
Moravian College - PA


Additional Info:


The band moves forward in 1980, by the addition of Tommy Zito, former leader, keyboard player, and lead vocalist of the national recording group Uproar. The band now focused in writing original tunes and fine tuning their talent. That same year Magnum is voted #1 rock band for the second consecutive year by WZZO-FM 95. The group that year performed with other great artist such as, Hall and Oats and Dave Mason at the Playpen (one of the east coast largest clubs), as well as other venues from the Pocono's in PA to Wildwood, NJ. July of 1980 Magnum headed up to Philadelphia to begin recording their first single, "Rock and Roll Man", b/w "Fun and Games" produced by Billy Terrell. Magnum's performance schedule was now full as they appeared in top Lehigh Valley Clubs and college concerts down to famous Florida clubs such as the Candy Store in Ft. Lauderdale and Big Daddys Lounge in West Palm Beach.

July of 1982 marks the debut of Mike DeFrank, formerly of Gandalf, and brought his experience as lead vocalist and guitarist to Magnum, which added to the ever-growing popularity of Magnum. Magnum began recording at Grandslam Studios in West Orange and in July of 1983, tracks were completed for Magnum's first album Chelsea Sound in New York City. (Engineer-Gary Russeland, assisted producers Jerry Huldzik and Bill Kelly) The Hot Nights album was mixed by Paul Northfield, of Quebec, a veteran of Rush and Asia projects, and the album was the first release of Allentown International Recording Artists, a new independent label founded by former Apple Records employees. Public Memory #1 the first single from the album, was picked by Billboard Magazine in the October 8, 1983 issue as having the potential to reach the Top 30. At the same time Public Memory #1 was on the play lists of radio stations in Pa, NJ, MD, Delaware, and was scheduled to appear on WPHL-TV Channel 17 "Dancin On Air". Joe Bonadano of WMMR chose Magnum to simulcast a concert from the Empire Rock Club, as a result of Billboards ratings and the strength of their recorded material, now receiving substantial airplay. Other than their TV appearances and airplay, Magnum was featured in hundreds of musician's magazines and newspaper articles along the coast.

Magnum was a show stopping success before 20,000, opening for survivor in Daytona Beach. In 1985, besides acquiring Kent Warner bass guitar player and vocalist, Magnum was chosen for the Miller Rock Network, and was later elected The Rock Network's top band for 1985. Despite the yearly renewal of Rock Network bands, Magnum was chosen to remain on the roster for a second year and also featured Public Memory #1 on a second Miller/RCA compilation Album. The 1986 tour took Magnum back down to Florida's Spring Break scene, opening for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, in Daytona. Tommy left the group in early 1987 to join the RCA recording group Aviator and was replaced by former lead vocalist of Gems Edge and Flashback, Bob Mason. Bob debuted on February 25, 1987, contributing to lead vocals, rhythm guitar and keyboard parts. The following summer, Avalon's Jack Place became the new Magnum summer home. That November Rory Castellano, formerly of Duke (The Greg Howe Band), joined Magnum as bassist and background vocals. Tragically, later that month, Magnum experienced the great loss of their video man, Tom Makl, who was also the director of the Magnum International Fan Club. A friend to all, Tom was and still is greatly missed.

1988 brought the release of No Secret Album, produced by former Scandel member Benjy King, and engineered by Kent Heckman, on Mothra records. After some personnel changes in 1990, Magnum's popularity continued to emerge with a strong lineup, including, Kjell Banner, who toured South America with Quiet Riot, on bass, and Jeff Smith, lead vocalist and guitarist, from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. At the shore the Star Dust, became Magnums summer home and hot spot of Wildwood, New Jersey. Along with their originals and other favorite cover songs, the band featured Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith covers that this version of Magnum was well know for. This final version of Magnum was intact until their final job, September 4th 1994, at the Stardust.