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Frankie Beverly, founder and longtime bandleader of the 80s group Maze, has died at the age of 77. In a statement revealed on Instagram, Beverly’s family shared the news that he passed away yesterday. No cause of death has been reported.
The statement reads:
Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience. During this time, as we are navigating feelings of sorrow, reflection, and remembrance we kindly ask for privacy and understanding, allowing us the space to grieve in our own way. This period for is one of healing, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly known to the world as Frankie Beverly.
He lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends. Love one another as he would want that for us all.
Howard Stanley Beverly aka Frankie Beverly – 12/6/46 – 9/10/24
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Beverly was born in Pennsylvania, and was drawn to gospel music as a schoolboy in a local church. He was raised in the East Germantown part of the city, and graduated from the now defunct Germantown High School.
As a teenager in the 60s, Beverly formed the doo-wop group The Blenders. He later formed the group The Butlers. In 1967, they linked with Philly soul legend Kenny Gamble, and their single ‘If That’s What You Wanted’ crossed over in the UK becoming a Northern soul standard.
Maze, which went by the name Raw Soul when it formed in Philadelphia in 1970, eventually relocated to San Francisco where they connected with Marvin Gaye, later opening for him on tour. On Gaye’s advice, Beverly changed the group’s name to Maze.
From the years 1977 to 1993, Frankie Beverly and Maze released many era-defining hits. Their sound captured the warmth, communion and fervour of black communities in America; their soulful, blithesome repertoire the soundtrack to the eternal “cookout“. Beverly possessed an agile, expressive voice that that has been cited by the likes of Usher, Babyface and Tank.
Beverly is known for hits like ‘We Are One‘, the syrupy funk of ‘Joy And Pain‘, and ‘Before I Let Go‘ which catapulted him to cult status. The ebullient crowd-pleaser has been covered by Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé, who memorialised the track (with Beverly’s blessing) during her Coachella performance.
In February, Beverly announced his retirement from music, celebrating his five-decade career with the ‘I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour‘ with Maze. It kicked off in March at the State Farm Arena, concluding its run in Los Angeles in May.
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