Cliff Wagner and the Ol' #7 (also titled as Cliff Wagner and the Old #7) is featured as one of the Top 12 bands in the FOX network’s competitive reality television series The Next Great American Band. It is a group which describes itself as a mix of acoustic, country, and bluegrass genres. The band is based in San Pedro, California, and says that their original compositions come from blending blues and honky tonk with modern-day lyrics, in order to achieve their so-called “high lonesome sound” and give traditional music a 21st century flavor. They also make use of harmony singing as well as instrumental components, and perform at live shows and for dances.
The band is led by Cliff Wagner, a native of Greenwood, Mississippi. He is well-versed in the use of string instruments, ranging from the banjo, to guitars, to the fiddle. He is the lead singer for the group and writes all of their original material. Also accompanying Wagner is Craig Ferguson, who plays the mandolin. Ferguson’s musical style has been featured on television shows such as
Close to Home and
Cold Case. Devitt Feeley is another fellow band member and mandolin player, and he has also worked as music teacher for the past two decades. Rounding out the group’s lineup is Andrew Paddock, a bass player.
(Photo courtesy of FOX)