"LET THE SIDESHOW BEGIN"
BLUE MAGIC and ME
  

Photo of me with Keith Beaton and Vernon Sawyer of Blue Magic 1977 and with Ted Wizard Mills 2004

Photos of Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer and Keith Beaton in the studio at a local radio station in Los Angeles, CA, April 2001


Back stage at “An Evening of Classic Soul"


Photos of Blue Magic on Stage at “A Night of Classic Soul"

Photos of Blue Magic in concert over the years

"A Night of Classic Soul"

Blue Magic Discography

The year was 1974, the radio was playing a song that I found to be very interesting. The title of the song was “Sideshow” by Blue Magic.  At the time I knew nothing about Blue Magic or Sideshow, I just knew I loved that song.  Shortly after hearing Sideshow, my brother purchased Blue Magic’s debut album.  The album contains some of the following songs: “Sideshow, Look me up, What’s come over me, Spell, Welcome to the club, I just don’t want to be lonely and Tear it down.”  Classic soul at its best!  [In my Opinion,] Blue Magic’s debut album is one of the best R&B albums ever released.  This was my first exposure to Blue Magic and their music, and only the beginning of my passion for this singing group.  

Blue Magic’s second album, The Magic of the Blue was just a notch below their first album.  Vernon, Wendell, Keith, Richard and Ted were well on their way with another great album, with songs like “Three ring circus, You won’t have to tell me good-bye, Looking for a friend, Stringing me along and Love has found its way to me," just to name a few, it was obvious that Blue Magic was a very special singing group.  

Not long after obtaining Blue Magic’s second album, I saw Blue Magic for the first time in concert at the Forum in Los Angeles, California with Al Green and Tavares.  Blue Magic was decked out in Blue tails with matching Stetson hats.  Their stage presence and spell-binding choreography kept me on the edge of my seat.  I was about 16 or 17 years old at the time.  I was recently asked why do I like Blue Magic so much?  My answer was short and simple, I said: “they are the best.”  There is no question that the Temptations are the greatest male singing group of all-time, but when the smoke clears, I’m going with Blue Magic. 

The second time I saw Blue Magic was in 1977 at Disneyland theme park, in Anaheim, California.  That show was more than 25 years ago, but I still remember almost every detail.  The show was lively and energetic with a full band called the Magic of the Blue aka Fat Larry’s Band.  After their first show, Vernon Sawyer and Keith Beaton were out talking with fans and taking pictures.  Somehow I was able to make my way through the crowd of women to get a picture with these two cool guys.  As I was watching their show with amazement, I knew our paths would someday cross again.  I was only 17 years old, but I wanted to promote them in concert one day.  
(see link to the left for photo of me with Keith Beaton and Vernon Sawyer from 1977) 

From 1977 to 2001, I have a lot of memories of Blue Magic and their music.  Anytime they released an album I purchased it, if they were in concert in Southern California, I was always there.  As with most groups, there were line-up changes: Vernon Sawyer and his brother Wendell Sawyer left the group for a short while, returning later.  Richard Pratt left the group and has never returned.  Ted “Wizard” Mills also left the group and has never returned, but Blue Magic’s sound and stage show is still one of the best.  Keith Beaton, Wendell and Vernon Sawyer have kept the magic alive! 
(see link to the left for photos of Blue Magic in concert)  

Somewhere around the early part of 2000, I was talking to a good friend of mine about promoting a concert.  We were both huge fans of Blue Magic.  Barry and I decided that we would promote a concert and have Blue Magic as our headliners.  My dream from 1977 was about to come true.  “A Night of Classic Soul” was born, it would come to Los Angeles, California on April 27, 2001.  Performing with Blue Magic would be the legendary Manhattans.  It was truly a night to remember and a dream that took 25 years to come true.  Putting on “A Night of Classic Soul” was a lot of work, but Barry and I were able to do it.  As we were making plans for the concert, I kept pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.  I knew I wasn’t dreaming on April 26, 2001, when Barry and I picked Blue Magic up at the airport.  The day of the show Barry and I treated the Manhattans and Blue Magic to breakfast at a local restaurant near their hotel.  I showed Vernon the photo that I took with him at Disneyland back in 1977.  Vernon was  speechless (see link to the left for photo with Vernon Sawyer in 1977.)  Vernon couldn’t believe I still had the photo after all those years.  I kept the photo because I knew one day I would show Vernon Sawyer that photo, and on April 26, 2001, I show it to him.  After the show, Vernon Sawyer told me that Barry and I were "not like other promoters."  I told Vernon, “we are not promoters, we are fans.”  Vernon also paid me two very nice compliments.  Vernon’s first compliment to me was: “this is the best we have been treated in all our years of show business,” and the second compliment came while he was on stage, he said: “Eddie, you’re very professional, thank you.”  

Over the years Blue Magic released many other albums (see  link to the left for album discography.)   “Chasing Rainbows, Sweet Woman, Welcome Back, Lady in my world of love, Magic Number, The Oscar, My magic is real, Freak-N-Stein, To get love, From out of the Blue, It's like magic when you came, Haunted by your love, Teach Me and Summer Snow" can be found on these follow-up album releases.

I could go on and on talking about Blue Magic, but I won't; however, I would like close by saying that Blue Magic is simply the best (all-around) singing group of the classic soul era.  I give all the respect in the world to the Temptations; Four Tops; Whispers; O’Jays; Delfonics; Stylistics; Dells; Dynamic Superiors; Ray, Goodman & Brown; Dramatics and the Spinners.  Each of the aforementioned groups are wonderful singing groups; however, when it comes to my number one group, I have to go with my guys, Blue Magic.