Post by Journey2herpast on Feb 20, 2007 20:44:29 GMT -5
Romantic, sensual, soothing, and captivating are the words that the musical talents or recording artists BLUE MAGIC
In June of 1973, The now world-famous group v was formed BLUE MAGIC reached GOLD status and produced the groups first million selling hit single, "SIDE SHOW". The gratifying success of musical tribute led to BLUE MAGIC recording a total of eight albums to date.
The five members of the group are: Richard Pratt, bass baritone; Keith Beaton, second tenor; Wendell Sawyer, baritone and lead vocalist; Ted Mills, Lead vocalist and Vernon Sawyer, second tenor. Richard Pratt left the group around 1980 and Ted Mills left the group around 1989.
The group was formed in 1972 by two shoe salesmen, Allen Rubin and Steve Burnstein. Blue Magic's first office was over a shoe store and after the success of their first album which included "Side Show" and "Spell", they moved to 13th & Vine Street in North Philadelphia where BLUE MAGIC grew up, 13th & Vine Became 13 Blue Magic Lane.
In November of 1974, BLUE MAGIC signed their first booking contract. The booking agency was Queen Booking Agency located in New York city. In 1975 they had their first world tour which lasted sixteen weeks. The tour included forty-eight states in the US, five countries in Europe, and ten days in the Philippines. They have performed for audiences in London, Copenhagen, Switzerland, Germany, NASSAU, St. Thomas, Bermuda, Montego Bay, Antigua, and Jamaica West Indies. BLUE MAGIC concluded their tour with a fourteen-day engagement in the Virgin Islands and they did a two week tour in Japan.
In April of 1975 BLUE MAGIC was chosen as the best new group of the year which earned them an Ebony Award.
BLUE MAGIC is not only known for their exquisite vocal harmonies but also for their masterful, storytelling choreography. Their choreography is a lesson in dancing imagery. With every movement a new and exciting chapter unfolds. Words, music and movement become as one as a totally captivating vignette unfolding in for the your eyes.
As a very visually oriented group they have had their share of television appearances, performing and titillating they imagination of the view Soul Train, The Midnight Special, Clint Holmes, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, The Merv Griffin Show, The Arcenio Hall Show, The thingy Clark Show, Rolanda Watts Shows, The Mike Douglas Show, The Jerry Blavat Show, Dancin' On Air, 3 day event at Jungle Habit which later became Great Adventures and A.M. Philadelphia are but a few of the television appearances they've had the gracious opportunity to perform on, 2003 Sexy Songs of R&B Performance Live in Concert and 2005 PBS Live Concert Event. Their electrifying performances and spell bounding style has allowed them to share the stage with the best and the most famous performers of their time. They have shared the stage with such greats as Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie and The Commodores, Marvin Gay, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Natalie Cole, the Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Earth Wind and Fire, Richard Pryor, Brother's Johnson, The New Edition, The Stylistics, The Dells, B.B. Kings, Chakka Kahn & Rufus, Ike and Tina Turner, Luther Vandross, Big Daddy Cane, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Butler, Lou Rawls, Parliament-Funkadelic, Patti Labelle, Freddie Jackson, The O'Jays, The Manhattans, The Ohio Players, The Whispers, Jeffrey Osborne & LTD, Aretha Franklin, The Escorts, The Persuaders, Ray Goodman and Brown, The Intruders & Many more and they had the pleasure of recording a song with Mick Jagger entitled "I Only Want to Be Your Friend" On the album "Its Only Rock 'N Roll" which was recorded in 1976 and achieved platinum status.
BLUE MAGIC have had change of personnel in the lead singer position. first replacing Ted Mill was Rod Wayne, later Martinez Little and now still performing with Blue Magic Wade Elliot.
www.officialbluemagic.com/index.html