Singing Group: Blue Magic Blue Magic is a singing group that originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 1970s. The group is known for their smooth and soulful vocal harmonies, which combined elements of R&B, soul, and pop music. Blue Magic gained popularity with their hit songs and distinctive style, becoming one of the most successful vocal groups of their time. The original members of Blue Magic were Theodore Mills, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt. Their debut album, also titled "Blue Magic," was released in 1974 and featured their first hit single, "Sideshow." The song reached number one on the R&B charts and number eight on the pop charts, solidifying Blue Magic's status as a group to watch.
" The song reached number one on the R&B charts and number eight on the pop charts, solidifying Blue Magic's status as a group to watch. Over the years, Blue Magic released several successful albums and singles, including "What's Come Over Me," "Three Ring Circus," and "Spell." Their music showcased their soulful harmonies and emotional lyrics, capturing the hearts of fans around the world.
Blue Magic: The Magic—and Dues—of The Blue
"Hey, we didn't know anything at all about Ann Arbor--we just happened to stop there to get something to eat," explains Richard Pratt, a member of the popular Blue Magic singing group. "We had sung in Muskegon, Michigan, the night before, and we were driving to our next engagement in Erie, Pa., when we ran into the Ann Arbor police."
Pratt and his colleague, Keith Beaton, vocalist and choreographer for Blue Magic, are recalling their painful experience with officers from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Dept. and the Ann Arbor Police Dept. on the night of May 10, 1975, outside the Howard Johnson's restaurant at US-23 and Carpenter Rd. We're sitting in Blue Magic's suite in the plush Pontchartrain Hotel across the street from Cobo Hall, where the hot Philadelphia quintet will join the O'Jays and the Commodores for a packed-to-the-rafters show in an hour or so, and the words of the gentle, self-contained young musicians before us provide a frightening contrast to the comfort in which we sit:
"The police didn't tell us anything about why they were stopping us," Beaton says. "They just started hollering at us to get out of the car. As soon as I got out and stood up, they kicked my legs out from under me and kicked me in the back as I was going down.
"It was like a construction site where they pulled us over--all muddy, you know? They made all six of us, the entire group and our driver, lie face down in the mud for three hours while they pulled our car apart and dumped everything in it on the ground. "There was a bull-dozer next to where a couple of us were forced to lie down, and the scoop of the thing was right next to our heads. All the time the cops had shotguns and Magnum pistols pointed up against our necks, like daring us to retaliate so they could shoot all of us. They'd say things like, 'I ought to start this bull-dozer and scoop both of you niggers into the ditch!' "
The incident began when a waitress at Howard Johnson's hallucinated a "long gun" into the hands of one of the members of the Blue Magic touring company, a group which included the five singers, their driver, their backup band ("The Magic of the Blue"), their equipment and equipment handlers. The waitress called the Sheriff's Department, headquartered two blocks away, and the young black men were just pulling out of the parking lot on their way to Pennsylvania while both County and City of Ann Arbor police cars swooped down on them and surrounded both of their vehicles.
"We don't carry any kind of guns," Beaton continued, "so they couldn't find any weapons of any kind, and they were plenty mad about it. One cop stood on our lead singer, Ted Mills', leg, and another one rubbed my face in the mud.
"They stripped our pants down while we were on the ground, and when the sun started coming up they made us all walk about two blocks to the Sheriff's headquarters with our pants down around our ankles.
"Inside the County Sheriff place they made us sit on the floor--they said, 'Don't dirty our bench.' But when they finally realized that we really were the Blue Magic, they started to change their tune. The handcuffs came off and it was, 'You gentlemen won't tell anyone about this little mistake, will you?'
"It was incredible. When we got to New York Atlantic Records got us a lawyer, and we filed suit against all the policemen we could identify as being involved. "We want people around the country to know that stuff like this still goes on in places that are supposed to be civilized. Maybe then police will be a little easier on the next person going through their town."
Blue Magic's civil suit is still pending in Federal District Court in Detroit, but the incident itself was enough for Ann Arbor Mayor Al Wheeler to order an investigation of the role of the city police in the affair, and Washtenaw County L Sheriff Fred Postill has already dismissed two officers who were named in the suit, William Tommelein and Randel Evans (as reported in The Sun, Volume 3, No. 12 and 16).
Happily, Blue Magic has suffered few such run-ins with the racist minions of lawn-order during their thousands of miles on the road since the group was formed three years ago, and their main preoccupation by far is their performing, recording, and producing activity as one of the freshest, fastest-rising new rhythm & blues groups in America.
Quite young by today's standards for big-name artists - all the members of Blue Magic are between 22 and 26 years old- the group already has three best-selling Atlantic albums to its credit, with a live album set for release soon and a new studio LP in the works in Philadelphia. Their initial entry, Blue Magic, went gold along with its big single, "Let the Sideshow Begin," and their two follow-ups (The Magic of the Blue and 13 Blue Magic Lane, a Halloween concept album) sustained the high musical level of the first LP. They've also recorded with the Rolling Stones, singing backup on the song "If You Wanna Be My Friend" at the request of Mick Jagger, one of Blue Magic's bigger fans.
Above and beyond the group's obvious singing and performing excellence (see our review in this issue), the main factor behind Blue Magic's rapid success has to be the modern production collective of which they are the major part. WMOT Productions (it stands for "We Men Of Talent") is made up of Blue Magic, their able manager Alan Rubens, and business associates Bruce Gable and Steve Bernstein. Besides handling Blue Magic's own production work, WMOT also manages, publicizes, and produces singers Damon Harris (formerly with the Temptations) and his new group Impact; Major Harris, former lead singer with the Delfonics; and Ms, Margie Joseph, also an Atlantic artist via WMOT Productions.
The individual members of Blue Magic are at the center of all this activity, and each of them has a primary responsibility for some aspect of the development of the group and the WMOT operation. Ted "The Wizard" Mills is lead singer and main songwriter, his material being published by WMOT's publishing arm, Mystic Dragon Music; Keith Beaton is the company's choreographer; Wendell Sawyer serves as vocal arranger; his brother Vernon Sawyer designs the outfit's clothes; and Richard Pratt doubles as the band's on-the-road accountant. Plus there is the group's hand-picked back-up band, The Magic of the Blue, which is currently planning its first WMOT Atlantic album for the near future.
Pratt and Beaton explain the Blue Magic strategy: "A lot of groups have been around making records for five or six years and they expect to be rich, but they aren't and they finally ask themselves 'What happened?'. They just weren't doing their 'at home' business.
"You can have all the talent in the world and it doesn't mean anything if you're stupid. I mean--if you're good on stage, that just means somebody is taking your money.
"We started WMOT so we could take our own money. We know the business because we handle it ourselves - because we own as much of it as possible ourselves. We were just lucky enough to be able to set it up that way from the beginning.
"None of us had any experience at this, really, before Blue Magic, except Ted and our manager. So when we started as a group, we weren't chased after. Hell, we'd been in Philly all our lives, and Gamble and Huff didn't even know who we were!
"Anyway, we were able to set things up so we had some control, and that made all the difference." Seeing that they've made it through their first three years (and their first and, hopefully, last bust) in rather fine shape, it's a safe bet that we'II be hearing good things from Blue Magic for some time to come. Look for their forthcoming album, Blue Magic Live at the Latin Casino.
"Inside the County Sheriff place they made us sit on the floor--they said, 'Don't dirty our bench.' But when they finally realized that we really were the Blue Magic, they started to change their tune. The handcuffs came off and it was, 'You gentlemen won't tell anyone about this little mistake, will you?'
Blue Magic's popularity also extended to the international stage, with successful tours and performances in countries such as the United Kingdom and Japan. Despite personnel changes over the years, Blue Magic continued to create music and perform together. Their music has been celebrated for its timeless quality and ability to connect with listeners of all ages. The group's influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary R&B and soul singers. Blue Magic's music continues to be loved and appreciated today. Their silky vocals and heartfelt lyrics have left a lasting impact on the music industry, and their songs remain favorites in the hearts of fans old and new. In conclusion, Blue Magic is a singing group that achieved great success and popularity in the 1970s. Their smooth harmonies and emotional performances captivated audiences, earning them a place in music history. Blue Magic's music continues to be cherished and enjoyed by fans around the world, securing their status as one of the most beloved vocal groups of all time..
Reviews for "The Art of Harmony: The Secret Behind the Success of Singing Group Blue Nagic"
1. Michelle - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with Singing group blue nagic. Their performance was lackluster and uninspiring. The lead singer had a weak voice and struggled to hit the high notes. The harmonies were also off and it was clear that they lacked rehearsal time. Overall, I felt like I wasted my money on this concert and would not recommend them to others.
2. David - 1 star
I have to say that Singing group blue nagic was one of the worst musical acts I've ever seen. Their choice of songs was questionable, and they lacked originality in their performance. The choreography was basic and unimpressive, and their stage presence was lacking. I was expecting much more from a supposedly talented singing group, but they failed to deliver.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I attended Singing group blue nagic's concert and was quite disappointed. Their vocals were unimpressive and they seemed to rely heavily on pre-recorded tracks. The group members did not have great chemistry on stage, and their performance lacked energy and enthusiasm. The whole experience felt underwhelming and I would not attend another one of their shows in the future.
4. John - 2 stars
Singing group blue nagic had potential, but they fell short in their performance. The group members seemed inexperienced and nervous on stage, leading to lackluster vocals and forgettable choreography. The songs they chose did not showcase their talents well and there was a general lack of originality in their performance. I was not impressed with their overall show and would not recommend them to others.