Legendary R&B and soul singer Frankie Beverly has died at the age of 77, according to an announcement from his family on his official Instagram page.
According to the post, Beverly, whose real name was Howard Stanley Beverly, passed away on September 10.
The post 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
“The Beverly Family.”
Born on December 6, 1946 in Philadelphia, Beverly got his start with The Blenders, before finding success in the Northeast with his second group, The Butlers. It was this taste of acclaim that led to his move to the West Coast. Beverly’s big break came in the early 1970s, when he moved to the Bay Area and formed the band Maze, initially known as Raw Soul. The group was invited to join Marvin Gaye (him being a fan of the band) as an opening act on tour. It was Gaye who suggested the band change their name from Raw Soul to Maze.
In 1977, Maze released their debut album, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, which included monumental smash hits such as “Happy Feelin’s,” “While I’m Alone,” “Lady of Magic,” and more.
Other celebrated cuts from the group include “Joy and Pain,” “Before I Let Go” “Golden Time of Day,” “The Look In Your Eyes,” “Look at California,” and a landmark album called Live in New Orleans. As writer Fredara Mareva Hadley put it in her feature on the LP, “Before I Let Go,” specifically, “went on to become what some call the unofficial ‘Black national anthem’… played at weddings, barbecues, family reunions, Historically Black College homecomings, and many other joyous occasions.”
Earlier this year, Beverly said goodbye to his fans with a farewell tour with Maze called “I Wanna Thank You.” The five-city tour kicked off in Atlanta on March 22 and headed to Alabama, Chicago, and Houston before concluding in Los Angeles on May 12. “I want to share with my lifelong fans and associates that I’ll be going out on the road one last time, then retire,” Beverly said to Billboard at the time. “Thank you so much for the support given to me for over 50 years as I pass on the lead vocalist torch to Tony Lindsay. The band will continue on as Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly. It’s been a great ride through the decades. Let the music of my legacy continue.”
