Formed in the late 1970s, Mystic Merlin was a soul and funk group from New York. They are best-known as the band that launched the career of R&B vocalist Freddie Jackson. Originally a novelty band known as Mystic Merlin’s Magic Band, the group used to perform magic tricks during their live performances. Once their blend of soul, funk, and dance music began to be taken more seriously, they dropped the magic gimmick and shortened their name to Mystic Merlin. The band’s original line-up featured Bill Withers’ nephew Clyde Bullard (bass), Barry Roark Strutt (saxophone/keyboards), Leslie Dorsey (keyboards/vocals), Jerry Anderson (guitar/vocals), Sly Randolph (drums), Betty Brown (lead vocals), and Keith Gonzales (lead vocals). They signed with Capitol Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1980. The album featured the UK Top 20 single “Just Can’t Give You Up”. They released their second album, Sixty Thrills a Minute, in 1981. The album featured additional musical assistance from Cheryl Lynn, Bill Champlin, Paulinho Da Costa, Ernie Watts, and others. By the release of their third album, Full Moon (1982), vocalist Freddie Jackson had joined the line-up. The album featured the cult hits “Your Love” and “Mr. Magician”. Shortly after the release of the album, Freddie Jackson left the group to pursue a successful solo career. The band carried on for a few more years, but they lost their deal with Capitol Records and did not record another album.
