Blue Magic is an American R&B soul vocal quintet best known for their 1974 hit song, "Sideshow."
History
Blue Magic was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972 when former member of The Delfonics, Randy Cain brought singer-songwriter Ted Mills in to do some writing with the Philly-based WMOT production company and a short time later, the group Shades of Love, featuring Keith Beaton, Richard Pratt, Vernon Sawyer and his brother Wendell, came in for an audition. According to Marc Taylor, in his book A Touch of Classic Soul of the Early 1970's, (Aloiv Publications, 1996, ISBN: 0965232840), "although the group performed admirably, they lacked a standout lead singer. WMOT execs decided to put Mills with the Shades of Love and re-named the group Blue Magic. They were signed with Atco/Atlantic Records in the same year."
Blue Magic were one of the earliest acts produced by Norman Harris, a Philadelphia records veteran. The group's harmonies were supported by the MFSB studio house band. The early releases from their first album in 1973 were mainly confined to the R&B chart. Blue Magic broke through in a big way the following year with their first million-selling US Top 10 hit single Sideshow. It climbed to #8 and topped the R&B chart. A follow-up,Three Ring Circus also sold well, reaching #36 in the pop chart and #5 R&B. Both were co-written by MFSB guitarist Bobby Eli, who played on the sessions.
The group became known mostly for their smooth ballads. The album Thirteen Blue Magic Lane in 1975 maintained the group's popularity and spawned their version of the popular dance track We're On The Right Track as well as the hit ballad, "Chasing Rainbows". Some of MFSB's best work can be found on Magic Of The Blue, Welcome To The Club, We're On The Right Track, and Look Me Up.
Blue Magic had two R&B chart singles in 1975 and four in 1976. The song, What's Come Over Me from their debut album was re-worked as a duet with Margie Joseph dubbed in alongside Mills' original lead vocals . The new approach saw the song, initially on the b-side of the group's second single, climb to #11 on the R&B chart in late 1975.
The group had their first world tour that year, which lasted for 16 weeks. The tour included 48 states in the United States, five countries in Europe, and a 10-day stay in the Philippines. Blue Magic concluded their tour with a two-week engagement in the Virgin Islands. In April 1975, they were chosen as the best new group of the year which earned them an Ebony Award.
By 1977, the group's popularity was starting to fade as music styles changed and despite the group continuing to record consistently, they failed to chart. Label moves to Capitol and then Mirage resulted in a return to the R&B chart, but without any real major success. Lead singer Ted Mills and Richard Pratt left in the 1980s. Mills was replaced by Rod Wayne. The group had some renewed popularity in 1989 with a comeback album, From Out of the Blue. Wayne was later replaced by Martinez Little.
Later years
In 1996, Ted Mills returned to the music scene as a solo act. He recorded a CD for Casablanca that year entitled 'This Magic Is Real,' featuring a remake of 'Tear It Down.' He is still performing, mostly in multi-act soul music shows. He recently appeared in the touring play Girl He Ain't Worth It with The Manhattans, Meli'sa Morgan and Tito Jackson.
Wade Elliott would later replace Martinez Little. This current lineup continues to tour in soul music shows and appeared on a 2003 PBS 70s Soul special (available on DVD under the title "Old School Soul Party Live!").
Blue Magic are known also for their choreography. As a very visually oriented group they have had several television appearances. These include: "Soul Train," "The Mike Douglas Show," "The Jerry Blavat Show," "Dancin' On Air," and "A.M. Philadelphia".
They have shared the stage with other performers such as The Jacksons, Lionel Richie, The Commodores, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Natalie Cole, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Earth, Wind & Fire, New Edition, The Stylistics, Mick Jagger and others. Blue Magic have also sung background vocals for Alyson Williams and the Rolling Stones (in If You Really Want To Be My Friend on the album It's Only Rock n Roll).
The group’s discography is represented in a number of compilations, although their original albums were generally unavailable on CD for some years until the first four studio albums for Atco and a live album with Margie Joseph and Major Harris were re-released individually in the U.S. in 2006.
Original members
- Theodore (Ted) "Wizard" Mills - lead - left to pursue a solo career in the late 1980s
- Keith "Duke" Beaton – tenor
- Wendell Sawyer – baritone, second tenor, first tenor and lead
- Vernon Sawyer – tenor, baritone.
- Richard Pratt - bass - left in 1981
Current members
- Keith "Duke" Beaton – tenor
- Wendell Sawyer – baritone
- Wade Elliot - first tenor
- Vernon Sawyer - second tenor, first tenor
Discography
Albums
- 1974: Blue Magic (Atco) - US #45, R&B #4
- 1975: 13 Blue Magic Lane (Atco) - US #50, R&B #9
- 1975: The Magic of the Blue (Atco) - US #71, R&B #14
- 1976: Mystic Dragons (Atco) - US #170, R&B #44
- 1978: Message (Atco)
- 1981: Welcome Back
- 1983: Magic # (Mirage) - R&B #52
- 1986: The Magic of the Blue: Greatest Hits (Atco)
- 1989: From Out of the Blue (Columbia) - R&B #48
- 1995: My Magic is Real (Hot Productions)
- 1996: The Best of Blue Magic: Soulful Spell (Rhino)
- 2006: Live (with Major Harris & Margie Joseph) (Collectables)
- 2008: Missing You
Singles
- 1973: "Spell" - R&B #30
- 1973: "Look Me Up" - R&B #36
- 1974: "Stop to Start" - US #74, R&B #14
- 1974: "Sideshow" - US #8, R&B #1
- 1974: "Three Ring Circus" - US #36, R&B #5
- 1975: "Love Has Found It's Way To Me" - R&B #45
- 1975: "Chasing Rainbows" - R&B #17
- 1975: "What's Come Over Me" - R&B #11 (with Margie Joseph)
- 1976: "Grateful" - R&B #15
- 1976: "Freak-N-Stein" - R&B #73
- 1976: "Teach Me (It's Something About Love)" - R&B #48
- 1977: "Summer Snow" - R&B #40
- 1981: "Land of Make-Believe" - R&B #77
- 1983: "Magic #" - R&B #69
- 1989: "Romeo and Juliet" - R&B #20
- 1989: "It's Like Magic" - R&B #31
External links
