Ted Mills

Singer/songwriter [wimpLink artistId="6041102"]Ted Mills[/wimpLink] sang lead vocals for [wimpLink artistId="13421"]Blue Magic[/wimpLink], who are best known for dreamy Philly Soul ballads, the million-selling "Sideshow" and "Three Ring Circus." He also wrote their favorites: "Spell," "What's Come Over Me," "Chasing Rainbows" and "Tear It Down." [wimpLink artistId="6041102"]Mills[/wimpLink] and the other members of the group -- [wimpLink artistId="13087175"]Keith Beaton[/wimpLink], Richard Pratt and brothers [wimpLink artistId="6259249"]Vernon[/wimpLink] and [wimpLink artistId="14902075"]Wendell Sawyer[/wimpLink] -- came from the same neighborhood of North Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA though initially they all were members of different vocal groups. [wimpLink artistId="6041102"]Mills[/wimpLink] performed with a group called [wimpLink artistId="3612556"]The Topics[/wimpLink]. Randy Cain of [wimpLink artistId="2468"]The Delfonics[/wimpLink], known best for "Didn't I Blow Your Mind," took [wimpLink artistId="6041102"]Mills[/wimpLink] to the offices of WMOT Productions so he could become a staff songwriter. The Sawyer brothers, [wimpLink artistId="4071683"]Pratt[/wimpLink] and Beaton were members of the vocal group [wimpLink artistId="3607356"]Shades Of Love[/wimpLink], who auditioned for WMOT. The production company decided to pair [wimpLink artistId="6041102"]Mills[/wimpLink] with his neighborhood pals to form the group, [wimpLink artistId="13421"]Blue Magic[/wimpLink]. Teamed with [wimpLink artistId="298"]MFSB[/wimpLink] guitarist/songwriter/producer [wimpLink artistId="4799639"]Norman Harris[/wimpLink] and recording at [wimpLink artistId="12892337"]Joe Tarsia[/wimpLink]'s legendary Sigma Sound Studios, their first hit single was [wimpLink artistId="6041102"]Mills[/wimpLink]' song "Spell" (#30 R&B, spring 1973). Besides Harris, other [wimpLink artistId="298"]MFSB[/wimpLink] members on their sessions were drummer [wimpLink artistId="8807311"]Earl Young[/wimpLink], bassist Ron Baker, vibraphonist [wimpLink artistId="14843931"]Vince Montana[/wimpLink] and orchestra leader [wimpLink artistId="8654836"]Don Renaldo[/wimpLink].
WMOT got a distribution deal with Atlantic Records' subsidiary, Atco Records. Their next single, "Stop To Start," a song written by [wimpLink artistId="11164823"]Allan Felder[/wimpLink] and [wimpLink artistId="6419099"]Jimmy Grant[/wimpLink] went to #14 R&B, #74 Pop in Early 1974. Written by [wimpLink artistId="298"]MFSB[/wimpLink] guitarist [wimpLink artistId="5488997"]Bobby Eli[/wimpLink] and Vinnie Barrett (aka Gwen Woolfolk), the bittersweet "Sideshow" went gold, going to #1 R&B, #8 Pop in spring 1974. This song was on their self-titled LP, Blue Magic, which also went gold, peaking at #4 R&B, #45 Pop in early 1974. ~ Ed Hogan