The rock band Sorcery were from Hollywood and Los Angeles, California[1][2][3][4][5] circa 1976 to 1987 and recognized around the world for their live stage show, which incorporated a magic theme, along with their music and films they appeared in.
Sorcery's stage show was created and first seen in 1976. The live stage show consisted of two master magicians, Paul Haynes playing the part of "Merlin" and Curtis James Hyde playing the part of the "Devil" in the on-stage battle of "Good vs. Evil". They were also honorary members of the "Magic Castle" in Hollywood Ca. Band members are Perry Morris (drummer and band leader), Lead guitarist Richard Taylor, and bass player Richie King. The first and original lead singer for SORCERY was Greg McGee. Their live stage show was known as "The King of the Wizards against the Prince of Darkness" and played only a small number of "gigs" before they were signed in 1978.
They were signed to appear in the film Stuntrock and to provide the film's soundtrack. In addition to Stuntrock, the musicians in Sorcery did other motion picture soundtracks, appeared on a number of "Dick Clark" TV specials and did "TV Bumper music". They also did TV background music, and commercial jingles in the L.A. studios. The band headlined every gig they ever played including gigs with Van Halen, and whose members were endorsed by major musical instrument manufacturres, such as the Ludwig Drum company, the Gibson Guitar Company and the B.C. Rich Guitar company. They were members of S.A.G, AFTRA and the Musicians Union Local 47 in Hollywood Ca.
Sorcery's drummer, Perry Morris, was an L.A. session drummer who played with many artists in the 1970s and 80s. Some of the artists Perry played with are Harry Nilsson, John Denver, the Coasters, Jimmy Webb, Joanie Mitchell, Tim Bogart, Jay Williams and Rare Earths keyboard player, Mark Olson, just to name a few. Perry Morris also did T.V. background music work, commercial jingles and movie soundtracks as well as background music work at many L.A. studios such as; MGM Studios,Culver City Ca. The Universal Studios in N. Hollywood Ca. the Warner Bros.studios in Burbank Ca. and recorded at NBC Studios,Burbank,ABC Studios in Hollywood and CBS/Television Studios in L.A. Many recording dates were at the original "Gold Star" studios(on Santa Monica & Vine St) in Hollywood, The Record Plant, the "Baby-O" studios on Sunset Blvd. Walley Heiders in Hollywood and "Sound City" in Van Nuys Ca, just to name a few. He was also sponsored by the Ludwig Drum company. Sorcery's lead guitarist,Richard Taylor, was also a member of S.A.G. and AFTRA, and the Musicians Union Local 47 in Hollywood Ca. Richard Taylor played with the groups "Leggs Diamond" and the band "BOA' and also did session work as well. The bass player for Sorcery was Richie King, a great bassist and a member of AFTRA, S.A.G. and the Musicians Union,Local 47. Richie King was an L.A. session Bass player and endorsed by B.C.Rich guitar company. The B.C. Rich guitar company made a custom bass guitar in Rickie King's honor as they were fans of Richie and the Sorcery band as well. Note: See link (link item 1 is top of page) on details from Vintage Guitar magazine on that bass guitar.
Over the years Sorcery had three lead singers. The first lead vocalist for Sorcery was Greg McGee, who was in the band from 1976-1979. Greg McGee appears in the film "STUNTROCK" and on the movie soundtrack LP. The second lead vocalist for "Sorcery" was David Glen Eisley from 1979 to 1983. David is on the "SORCERY 2" LP/cd and the "Sorcery Live" LP/cd. Sorcery also did Dick Clark T.V. specials in 1982 and 1983 that David Eisley appears on. The third vocalist for the group was Nigel Benjamin. Nigel previously sang with the bands "Mott the Hoople" and the band "London". Nigel's vocals were used for the "Rocktober Blood" movie soundtrack.(Except for the track "Rainbow Eyes" sung by Susie Major).[6]
Sorcery band members Perry Morris, Richard Taylor and Richie King also appear in the film Rocktober Blood as the Headmistress Band, as well as recorded most of that movies soundtrack in 1984. The "Rocktober Blood" movie LP was recorded in part at the "Baby-O" studios on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood Ca.
The film "STUNTROCK" was first available on DVD in 1997 and re-released on DVD in 2009 by Code-Red. The film has also been playing over recent years in theaters around the world. It has become a "midnite movie cult classic" in many circles.[7] Showing at the Alamo Draft House in Austin, Texas, to the NEW BEVERLY CINEMA in Beverly Hills Ca. and around the country. The film has brought renewed interest in the group and its music some 32 years after the picture was made. Additional information is available on the web on this L.A. based group from the 70's and 80's.