MBnewsreport r&b Ingredients ‘Blue Magic’ Alleges Mich.

e Or. Down The Road,” burning the airwaves in New York it was a real Police Brutality Frank, Bunny, Kitty & Krystal dropped by the the Consumer Rapport, ANN ARBOR — Recording artists Blue At this time, an officer tore away the Wheeler and Stephen Y. Schaeffer along Cash Box office along with producers Harold Magic sustained injuries due to alleged pants of Wendall and Vernon Sawyer and to talk about their single and their recent ab Emms- of Atlantic Records brutality by Wackensaw county police of- continued his search None of the mem- last weekend. The success of the single has been showcase at the Total Experience ficers in Ann Arbor. Michigan on Satur- bers of the group were advised of their the west coast. The Consumer I it here on truly phenomenal and is starting to catch on day. May 10 rights or why they were being searched, which will air May 30 and are now preparing ' just completed taping a Midnight Special The group, who had an engagement according to Keith Beaton The musi- Down The Road," is on Wing and A Prayer I single. On tracks for their next “Ease Friday, May 9, in Muskeegon, Michigan, cians in Blue Magic's band, who were Atlantic. Records and is distri buted by were enroute from a restaurant at the traveling behind the group in a van, were the William Morris Agency, who are negotiating a Little Richard has been signed by Howard Johnson's Hotel at Wackensaw allegedly held spread eagle with rifles king of rock 'n roll. Little Richard is currently in the new record contract for the and Carpenter Streets to their next gig in cocked and aimed at them by assisting all sound . . .Barry White completely sold out studios coming, up with a new updated Erie, Pennsylvania The group alleges officers. During this period, the group the promoters are begging him to return, which he will do his shows in London and that upon leaving the restaurant in their claims the following remarks were made

rest of his current European tour . Cecil Holmes, vp of after he completes the car they were converged upon by ap- by the officers One officer referring to Casablanca Records reports that the Parliaments LP is approaching 200,000 units proximately ten police units The group another allegedly said “Can I shoot one have been set to open to the Rolling Stones at Cobo Hall in sold. Also the Parliaments alleges that the police jumped out of of them?" "I'd like to take the dirt plow 28. Detroit July 27 & their cars and instructed the group (us- and plow them over to the police station" Theatre was completely sold out over the weekend. The CTI show at the Ahmanson ing numerous obscene and racial and allegedly made continuous harass- of the CTI artists including Grover Washington, Jr. Appearing on the show were many references) to get out of their car At that ing and racist statements using the word Magic” LP is approaching 500,000-units sold Crossover Records has whose “Mr. moment, officers with rifles and pistols "nigger." the appointment of Chuck Offutt to the position of national promotion announced cocked, forceably removed the members After a series of phone calls, the Festival to in of the label . . Tickets are now on sale for the Kool be held director of Blue Magic. Their driver, Charles Kel- sheriffs department became aware that San Diego July 25 & 28. Featured artists are Gladys Knight, , Bobbi ly, the first out of the car. was thrown to the members were indeed the musical Robinson, , New Birth, Aretha Franklin, Isley Humphrey, Smokey the ground Keith Beaton of Blue Magic group Blue Magic and they were un- Brothers, Lewis, Stan Getz, Toshiko Big Band .Van McCoy hot on the charts Ramsey was allegedly handcuffed while officers handcuffed and released Charles Kelly, with his single, "The Hustle,” is in the Media Sound Studios mixing a new record for held cocked pistols in his face Soon the their driver, was booked and released on his group, the Richmond Extension. The single will be out shortly on Polydor rest of the group were removed and $1,000 bail for possession of starter cap Records, through Silver Blue Productions. handcuffed. pistols. Edwin Starr has just signed with David Gest public relations. Starr’s new single, At this point, officers allegedly en- The group alleges that obviously,

“Pain.” is crossing over to the pop charts in Milwaukee & Chicago . Ron Townshend gaged in a series of brutalities upon the pending court hearing, no member of of The 5th Dimension is now managing a new group called Five Easy Pieces who are members of the group An officer al- their aggregation carried any pistols or in the studios for Claridge Records, with Frank Slay producing. Slay was the producer legedly crushed his boot into Ted Mills' cap guns into the restaurant and that not of Sugarloaf s smash hit, “Don’t Call Us Al Green’s ninth LP for Hi Records will be (lead singer of Blue Magic) ankle with a only were they deprived of their con- released in about a month. gun pointed in his face as a dare and stitutional rights but they were subject to New Birth stopped by to visit with yours truly about their hit LP "Blind Baby,” and fright tactic. racial and personal degradation. their hot single, "Granddaddy.” The 12 piece group is planning a series of summer An officer allegedly hit Keith Beaton's Upon leaving the station, the group im- dates with the O’Jays, Earth, Wind & Fire and Kool and the Gang. Tony Churchill a spine with the butt of his rifle and an of- mediately drove to Erie, Pennsylvania, New Birth member described their sound as "music to make you happy and make you ficer allegedly kicked Richard Pratt in his where they were treated for their in- aware of what's happening around you " Aretha Franklin has been set for a week’s face while he was on the ground juries. A full investigation is pending by stand at the Premier Theatre in Westchester, New York starting May 27. handcuffed legal representation for Blue Magic. Ray Charles has been selected to receive the first Man of Distinction Award from the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease. Charles will be honored at a dinner June 9 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Graham Central Station were the only act to appear Mr. Magic Bristol Day with Stevie Wonder when Stevie was honored in Washington. D C at the Human Kind- ness Day last week, Doing Magic In N. Carolina Gwen McCrae is close to getting a gold record for her current single, “Rockin’ On The Charts LOS ANGELES — The mayor of Chair," on TK’s Cat Records Jeannie Reynolds’ new single on Casablanca is receiv- Morgantown, North Carolina, proclaimed ing heavy phone response on WSID Baltimore Tempts in the studios hosting a HOLLYWOOD — With multiformat air- May 16 "Johnny Bristol Day" when the Midnight Special which will be aired on NBC July 4 The Tempts will be premiering play errupting across r&b, jazz, pop. pro- MGM/Polydor Records artist was their new member Carl Leonard to national audiences Tavares’ new LP on gressive and top-40 boundaries, sup- honored in his hometown by members of Capitol tentatively titled, "In The City," should be released the first part of July ported by a national SRO tour that has the Morgantown city council, chamberof Major Harris opening this week to Gladys Knight and the Pips at the Valley Forge snapped house attendance records in commerce officials and county com- Theatre in Valley Forge, Pa. Kool and the Gang producing the next single for the several markets, Grover Washington, ." missioners, along with other top com- KG’s who are hot on the charts with "Keep On Bumpin’ The title of the single is Jr.'s "Mr Magic" has become CTI’s big- munity leaders. W Flemon McIntosh, "Hustle.” Creative Source will have a single out on MGM/Polydor in the next cou- gest selling album since the label’s in- chairman of the sponsoring committee, ple of weeks. Formerly the group was with Sussex Records. ception. revealed that the festivities included a Berkeley Jazz Festival, May 23 & 24 in Berkeley has added more acts to the festival According to Tom Noonan, Motown’s banquet-dance and a radio party on Performers added are Bemie Maupin, Bobbi Humphrey, and Rufus, director of marketing, the album is in ex- WMNC-AM, featuring records by the Funkadelics and Mandrill selling out all over the country and doing great business on cess of 350,000 units and shows every famed singer/producer/songwriter, their current tour. James & Bobby Purify single "All The Love I've Got" getting good sign of going gold this month. Currently which Bristol co-hosted A letter of airplay on WBOK and WYLD in New Orleans, WVOL Nashville. WLOK, Memphis and topping the nation's jazz and soul charts, tribute from North Carolina Governor WJLB Detroit Don Cornelius of Soul Train recently hosted a Midnight Disco Special "Mr. Magic” is bulleting up pop charts James E Holshouser Jr was read and which airs on NBC May 23 Show will headline many disco acts including Disco-Tex with top-thirty placement in all three presented to Bristol. and His Sex-O-lettes (Monti Rock III) . . .Larkin Arnold, general manager of Capitol’s trades The recently released single. Bristol can be seen and heard soul division has announced the signing of Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole. “Mr. Magic,” is starting to break both r&b performing the single “Leave My World" Natalie is currently in the studios working on a single which will be released in late and pop “What’s especially significant," from his second LP for the MGM June with the LP to follow in early July Nancy Wilson’s new LP should be released commented Mike Lushka, Motown’s na- Records label, “Feeling The Magic," on shortly It is entitled "Come Get To This.” Reflections "Three Steps From True tional sales manager, "is that not only is an upcoming "Dinah!" show set to air on Love” is a top 10 smash in all the discos in New York and other cities around the coun- Grover crossing over in many directions, nationwide television May 29. try. but he’s introducing an entirely new au- jess levitt dience to other CTI giants like Bob James, , and others.”

Tempts Join Gemini Roster

HOLLYWOOD — Ira Okun. executive vice-president of Gemini Artists Management Ltd announced the ex- clusive worldwide signing of theTempta- tions The Tempts, one of the most suc- cessful acts in all the world, have a cur- rent gold album with their latest on BLUE MAGIC & J5 MEET — Tito Jackson, of the Jackson 5. and his lovely wife Dee Motown, entitled "Song For You," and a Dee are pictured with Wendall Sawyer of Blue Magic (second from right). Steve hit single entitled "Shakey Ground." This UP, UP & AWAY — On their way with the Phil Bernstein and Alan Rubens, managers of Blue Magic and owners of W.M.O.T is the fourth consecutive gold album for Commodores are (I to r) Cash Box's Productions in Philadelphia (on either side of Sawyer). Blue Magic's valet Charles the group Gemini has set up a summer Alexander, Commodore William King, Levitt, and Kelly is pictured on far left. Groups met during an engagement on the east coast re- theatre tour for the group with a tour of Cash Box r&b editor, Jess cently. Europe and Australia slated forthe fall. Commodore Milan Williams.

34 May 24. 1975