Charles Blagmon (September 16, 1951 - July 18, 1991) – Come Down To Earth (1976)

This powerful message song was written, arranged, and produced by Van McCoy for the Choice Four's final album On Top of Clear.

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Charles Blagmon aka “Blackmon” was one of the founding members of Washington, D.C.-based R&B vocal group the Choice Four. He left our world far too soon when he was tragically murdered at the age of 39.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Blagmon began singing while he attended Eastern High School in the late 1960s. After graduating, he formed a vocal group called The Stridels with several former classmates. They added members of another group, The Love Tones, and changed their name to the Choice Four. Other members besides Blagmon were Bobby Hamilton, Ted Maduro, and Pede “Pete” Marshall.

After joining forces with legendary songwriter and producer Van McCoy, the group released three albums on RCA in the mid-1970s, all produced by McCoy. The Finger Pointers came first in 1974, then a self-titled album in 1975, and finally, On Top of Clear, released in 1976. It would be their final LP. The album’s standout track was the powerful message song “Come Down To Earth,” which McCoy wrote, arranged and produced. It was released as the LP’s lead single and made it to #9 R&B, their highest-ever chart success.

Another of the album’s highlights was the beautiful love song “Just Let Me Hold You For A Night.”

Written by McCoy’s songwriting partner Charles H. Kipps, Jr., it was arranged, conducted, and produced by McCoy. The track was issued as a single, but only reached #76 on the R&B charts.

The Choice Four broke up in the late 70s. Blagmon, who was said to be a “fancy dresser and superb dancer,” subsequently owned a cabaret on 14th Street NW.

Blagmon was brutally murdered in the summer of 1991. On July 13, a 14-year old boy was killed a few blocks from Blagmon’s home. Detectives questioned Blagmon as a possible witness, but he knew little about the boy’s death and did not provide them with any information. Nonetheless, the boy’s killer likely began stalking Blagmon after that. Just before midnight on July 18, Blagmon went to the store for a pack of cigarettes and took a shortcut through an alley. On his way back, he was approached from behind and shot multiple times in the back.

Prior to his murder, Blagmon had been talking about getting back into the music business. Interviewed the day after his death, his mother recalled:

“He was telling a boy yesterday, 'You know, I used to sing, and I may go back to singing,'” his mother said. She said the boy responded, “You sound so good, why don't you go and sing again, Charles?”

Rest in Power, Charles Blagmon.

Further info:

“Once-Popular Vocalist Is Among 4 Victims In Violent D.C. Night,” by Gabriel Escobar and Brian Mooar, Washington Post, July 20, 1991.

#soul #VanMcCoy #ChoiceFour #CharlesBlagmon