(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