Keith Beaton obit

 

Legendary Blue Magic singer Keith Beaton dies at 72

He was not on the list.

(January 14, 2023) We received sad news this morning via a post from legendary Blue Magic singer, Ted “Wizard” Mills, that Blue Magic co-founder and longtime member Keith "Duke" Beaton has died. He was 72.

Keith Beaton an original member of BlueMagic has been my brother for over 50 years as we traveled performing all over the world. My heart has been ripped out in sadness… My brother Keith Beaton You will surely be missed…as you now sing with the heavenly choir. May you rest in heavenly peace.

Beaton was part of Blue Magic from the beginning, and helped grow the act into one of the all-time great Philly soul vocal groups. Formed by Temple University student Mills with some friends, the group scored an early hit with Mills' composition "Spell." When the other members who participated in the recording balked at touring, Mills merged with local band Shades of Love (Beaton, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, and Richard Pratt) to form the nucleus of Blue Magic that would top the charts for years to come.