Music Explosion

The Music Explosion was an American garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio, discovered and signed by record producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz. The quintet is best known for their number two hit, "Little Bit O' Soul". The single was given gold record status by the RIAA. Written by British songwriters John Carter and Ken Lewis, who had previously written big hits for The Ivy League and Herman's Hermits, the song was originally recorded in 1964 by UK beat group The Little Darlings. The Music Explosion version (released as a single by Laurie Records in 1967 and subsequently issued by Buddah Records) was the band's only top 40 hit. The band's chart success paved the way for tours with contemporaries like The Left Banke and The Easybeats. On the band's sole album, Kasenetz and Katz wrote several of the tracks, which were blatant rewrites of existing songs. Bassist Burton Stahl later acknowledged these claims. Lead singer Jamie Lyons (born James Lewis Lyons on January 31, 1949, in Galion, Ohio) also recorded several solo singles for the Laurie label while a member of the group. His first single, "Soul Struttin'", became a Northern soul hit. Lyons died of heart failure at his home in Little River, South Carolina on September 25, 2006, at age 57. The band continued touring and playing festivals with a new lead singer. Drummer Bob Avery later became a member of Crazy Elephant. Burton Stahl died at age 75 in his hometown of Mansfield, Ohio on April 27, 2023, after a brief illness. In addition to playing many gigs over the years, he worked for Downtown Mansfield Inc. leading community revitalization projects.