Blue Magic is an American R&B and soul music group that was formed in 1972. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the group consisted of Ted Mills, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt. They were known for their smooth harmonies and romantic ballads. Blue Magic signed with Atlantic Records in 1972 and released their self-titled debut album later that year. The album included their signature song, "Sideshow," which became a major hit and reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart. The group's follow-up singles, "Spell" and "Three Ring Circus," also performed well on the charts.
Blue Magic
There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) Blue Magic was an American R&B vocal quintet that was one of the more popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s.
2) Blue Magic was a late 1960s funk-soul band.
3) Blue Magic is a Russian band.
4) 4. Blue Magic is a remixer for OC ReMix and VGMix.
1. Blue Magic, an American R&B vocal quintet whose members were Theodore Mills, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt, was formed in Philadelphia and signed to Atlantic Records in 1973. They hit the Top 40 of the R&B singles chart with their first three 45s before breaking through and crossing over with "Sideshow," released in April 1974, which went gold, topped the R&B charts, and became a Top Ten pop hit. "Three Ring Circus," their next single, made the R&B Top Ten and the pop Top 40. Blue Magic had two more R&B chart singles in 1975 and four in 1976 before suffering a career slump, but they still managed to influence many artists, such as The Mighty Majors ('You can Never go Back'), which opened a show for them once. Still, they returned with R&B chart singles in 1981 and 1983 and made a comeback album, From Out of the Blue, in 1989.
2. Blue Magic was a late 1960s funk-soul band with songs "One, Two, Three" and "Can I Say I Love You".
3. Blue Magic is a Russian band.
4. Blue Magic is a remixer for OC ReMix and VGMix.
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Blue Magic original members reunite for "Unsung" episode
(July 30, 2017) TV One's excellent musical biography show, Unsung, is filming its upcoming season, and will feature an episode on the tremendous Philly soul group, Blue Magic.
In addition to providing long overdue recognition to one of the great 70s soul groups, the show also brought together the original members of Blue Magic for the first time in three decades, as evidenced by the picture on this page (originally posted by Ted "The Wizard" Mills on his Facebook page). The members are, from left to right: Wendell Sawyer, Richard Pratt, Ted Wizard Mills, Keith Beaton, Vernon Sawyer.
(July 30, 2017) TV One's excellent musical biography show, Unsung, is filming its upcoming season, and will feature an episode on the tremendous Philly soul group, Blue Magic.
In addition to providing long overdue recognition to one of the great 70s soul groups, the show also brought together the original members of Blue Magic for the first time in three decades, as evidenced by the picture on this page (originally posted by Ted "The Wizard" Mills on his Facebook page). The members are, from left to right: Wendell Sawyer, Richard Pratt, Ted Wizard Mills, Keith Beaton, Vernon Sawyer.
The quintet was responsible for some of the most enjoyable smooth soul of that decade. Blue Magic was formed in Philadelphia and began recording for Atlantic records in 1973. The group became one of the earliest acts produced by veteran Philly guitarist Norman Harris, who spent most of the decade in the shadow of Gamble & Huff but who masterminded a number of great albums for artists from the Trammps to the Temptations.
Blue Magic's debut album included a number of quality tunes, perhaps the best of which was "Look Me Up," an infectious stepper highlighted by Mills' clear falsetto, and which created early comparisons with the Stylistics. Real crossover success came in 1974 with "Sideshow," a now classic Philly forlorn ballad that topped the Soul charts and made the Pop top 10. Over the next three years Blue Magic became know mostly for smooth ballads, and the group stayed high on the Soul charts with "Three Ring Circus," "Stop to Start," and "Chasing Rainbows," before landing a big hit with the dance tune "Magic of the Blue."
Blue Magic's fortunes faded as the 70s came to an end, and Richard Pratt left in the early 80s. However, they continued to record sporadically, landing two moderately successful comeback albums, 1983's Magic # and 1989's From Out of the Blue. By the 90s, lead singer Mills had left the group for a solo career, and 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 as well as joining Russell Thompkins Jr and William Hart on a 2008 Shanachie Records disc as the 3 Tenors of Soul. A reconstituted Blue Magic, consisting of the two Sawyers, Beaton and lead singer Wade Elliott, continued to tour in soul music shows and occasional television appearances, still sounding quite good. They are managed by Elaine Sawyer with promotional help from Sgt. Gary Nadler. Vernon Sawyer recounted many of the group's triumphs in a recent interview.
We're excited that Unsung has finally paid tribute to this all-time group, and are looking forward to seeing the episode when it is released!
By Chris Rizik
Blue Magic
Blue Magic is an American R&B and soul group formed in 1972. The group's original members included lead singer Ted Mills with Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt.
The group's follow-up singles, "Spell" and "Three Ring Circus," also performed well on the charts. In 1974, Blue Magic released their second album, "Blue Magic," which featured the singles "Stop to Start" and "Chasing Rainbows." The album was another success and continued to showcase the group's talent for creating melodic and soulful music.
Contents
Throughout the 1970s, Blue Magic released several more albums, including "The Magic of the Blue" and "Thirteen Blue Magic Lane," which featured the hit single "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely." The group's music often combined elements of R&B, soul, and doo-wop, creating a unique sound that resonated with audiences. Despite their success, Blue Magic faced various lineup changes and label switches during their career. However, their music continued to be appreciated by fans, and the group's songs have remained popular over the years. In recent years, Blue Magic has continued to perform live and entertain audiences with their timeless music. Their smooth harmonies and soulful ballads have made them an enduring presence in the R&B and soul genres. With their legacy firmly established, Blue Magic's music continues to captivate listeners and serve as a testament to their talent and artistry..
Reviews for "Remembering The Legacy of Blue Magic Music Group: A Nostalgic Journey"
1. John - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the performance by the Blue Magic Music Group. The lead singer was completely out of tune and it was evident that they were not prepared for the show. The overall energy was low and the band seemed disinterested. I would not recommend attending any of their concerts.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I had heard good things about the Blue Magic Music Group, but when I saw them live, I was honestly underwhelmed. The lead vocalist lacked stage presence and didn't connect with the audience. The songs they performed were also quite repetitive and didn't showcase any unique talent. Overall, it was a forgettable experience.
3. Mark - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the Blue Magic Music Group, but unfortunately, they didn't live up to my expectations. The sound mixing was off, making it difficult to hear the vocals clearly. Additionally, the band members lacked chemistry and seemed to be playing separately instead of as a cohesive unit. I was hoping for a memorable performance, but it fell short.
4. Emily - 3 stars
While the Blue Magic Music Group had some talented musicians, I found their performance to be a bit dull. The songs they played were all within the same genre, resulting in a lack of variety. The lead singer's voice was decent, but it didn't stand out from other artists in the same genre. Overall, I wasn't impressed and wouldn't go out of my way to see them again.
5. Alex - 2 stars
I attended a concert by the Blue Magic Music Group expecting a vibrant and engaging performance, but I was disappointed. The band lacked energy and enthusiasm, making it difficult for the audience to connect with them. The setlist was also quite predictable and didn't offer any surprises. I felt like they were just going through the motions rather than giving their all on stage.