Blue Magic (band)
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- For the term in Final Fantasy, see Final Fantasy magic.
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| Blue Magic | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Philadelphia, USA |
| Genre(s) | R&B Soul |
| Years active | 1973 – Current |
| Label(s) | Atlantic |
| Website | [http://www.officialbluemagic.com/ |
| Members | |
| Theodore Mills Keith Beaton Wendell Sawyer Vernon Sawyer Richard Pratt |
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Blue Magic is an American R&B soul vocal quintet best known for their 1974 hit song, "Sideshow."
Contents |
[edit] History
Blue Magic was formed in Philadelphia 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 Blue, 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, "although the group performed admirably, they lacked a standout lead singer and WMOT execs decided to put Mills with the Shades of Love and renamed 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 house band.
Early releases were mainly confined to the R&B chart. Blue Magic became popular in 1974 with their first million-selling US Top 10 hit single Sideshow and Three Ring Circus, both co-written by guitarist Bobby Eli. They 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. 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. They recorded the hit What's Come Over Me twice, once on their first album and, secondly, as a single with Margie Joseph.
In 1975 the group had their first world tour, which lasted sixteen weeks. The tour included forty-eight states in the United States, five countries in Europe, and ten days in the Philippines. Blue Magic concluded their tour with a fourteen-day 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.
With the rise of disco and the group making the mistake of changing their style for the Halloween-oriented album 'Mystic Dragons', which was centered around the single 'Freak-N-Stein,' the group became less popular, and both lead singer Ted Mills and Richard Pratt left for religious reasons in 1981. Mills was replaced by Rod Wayne. They returned to the R&B chart with singles in 1981 and 1983 and experienced renewed popularity in 1989 with a comeback album, From Out of the Blue. Wayne was later replaced by Martinez Little.
[edit] Later Years
In 1996, Ted Mills returned to the music scene as a solo act. He recorded a CD for Casblanca 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, Me'lissa 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 well represented in a number of compilations, though 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 USA in 2006.
[edit] Original members
- Theodore Ted "Wizard" Mills - lead. Left to pursue a solo career in the late 80's.
- Keith "Duke" Beaton – tenor
- Wendell Sawyer – baritone,Second Tenor,First Tenor and Lead
- Vernon Sawyer – tenor, baritone.
- Richard Pratt - bass. Left in 1981.
[edit] Current members
- Keith "Duke" Beaton – tenor
- Wendell Sawyer – baritone
- Vernon Sawyer – tenor, baritone.
[edit] Discography
[edit] 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)
- 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)
[edit] Singles
- 1973: "Look Me Up" - R&B #36
- 1973: "Spell" - R&B #30
- 1974: "Sideshow" - US #8, R&B #1
- 1974: "Stop to Start" - US #74, R&B #14
- 1974: "Three Ring Circus" - US #36, R&B #5
- 1975: "Chasing Rainbows" - R&B #17
- 1975: "Love Has Found It's Way To Me" - R&B #45
- 1975: "What's Come Over Me" - R&B #11
- 1976: "Freak-N-Stein" - R&B #73
- 1976: "Greatful" - R&B #15
- 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
- 1989: "It's Like Magic" - R&B #31
