70s Soul Jam

MORRISTOWN — Get down with the best of 70s Philly soul, featuring The Stylistics ("You Make Me Feel Brand New," "You Are Everything," "Betcha By Golly, Wow"), Harold Melvin's Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me By Now," "The Love I Lost") and Blue Magic ("Sideshow"). 70s Soul Jam comes to the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Thursday, July 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39 to $79.

The Stylistics
The Stylistics, the Philadelphia-based quartet, recorded 10 straight-top 10 hits during the early 1970s. In 1971, the group released their debut self-titled album. The Stylistics' first single, "You're a Big Girl Now", immediately became a top-10 hit. They went on to produce 12 consecutive top-10 hits from 1971 to 1974, culminating with their Grammy-nominated hit, "You Make Me Feel Brand New."

Blue Notes
Harold Melvin was one of the driving forces behind Philadelphia soul, leading his group the Blue Notes to the top of the charts during their stint on Philadelphia International label. Despite Melvin's billing out front, the Blue Notes' focal point was lead singer and onetime drummer Teddy Pendergrass, whose surging baritone graced the Blue Notes' recordings during their glory years of 1972 to 1975. They never really disbanded, and by the time Melvin died in 1997, he'd been leading the Blue Notes for more than four decades.

Blue Magic
Blue Magic hit the Top 40 of the R&B singles chart with their first three '45s before breaking through and crossing over with "Sideshow," released in April 1974, which went gold, topped the R&B charts, and became a Top Ten pop hit. "Three Ring Circus," their next single, made the R&B Top Ten and the pop Top 40. Blue Magic had two more R&B chart singles in 1975 and four in 1976.

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St., Morristown. For more information or tickets call the box office at 973-539-8008 or visit www.mayoarts.org.