Ted Mills

Vocalist/songwriter Ted Mills sang business lead vocals for Blue Magic, who are most widely known for dreamy Philly Spirit ballads, the million-selling “Sideshow” and “3 Band Circus.” He also composed their favorites: “Spell,” “What’s Arrive Over Me,” “Going after Rainbows” and “Rip It Down.” Mills as well as the various other associates of the group — Keith Beaton, Richard Pratt and brothers Vernon and Wendell Sawyer — originated from the same community of North Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA though originally they all had been associates of different vocal groupings. Mills performed with an organization known as The Topics. Randy Cain from the Delfonics, known greatest for “Didn’t I Blow YOUR BRAIN,” had taken Mills towards the offices of WMOT Productions therefore he could turn into a personnel songwriter. The Sawyer brothers, Pratt and Beaton had been members from the vocal group Tones Of Like, who auditioned for WMOT. The creation company made a decision to set Mills along with his community pals to create the group, Blue Magic. Teamed with MFSB guitarist/songwriter/manufacturer Norman Harris and documenting at Joe Tarsia’s renowned Sigma Audio Studios, their initial hit one was Mills’ melody “Spell” (#30 R&B, springtime 1973). Besides Harris, various other MFSB members on the sessions had been drummer Earl Teen, bassist Ron Baker, vibraphonist Vince Montana and orchestra head Don Renaldo. WMOT got a distribution cope with Atlantic Information’ subsidiary, Atco Information. Their next one, “Stop TO START OUT,” a melody compiled by Allan Felder and Jimmy Offer visited #14 R&B, #74 Play Early 1974. Compiled by MFSB guitarist Bobby Eli and Vinnie Barrett (aka Gwen Woolfolk), the bittersweet “Sideshow” proceeded to go gold, likely to #1 R&B, #8 Play springtime 1974. This melody was on the self-titled LP, Blue Magic, which also went silver, peaking at #4 R&B, #45 Play early 1974.