Howard Stanley Beverly (December 6, 1946 – September 10, 2024), known as Frankie Beverly, was an American singer, songwriter, and producer known primarily for his recordings with the soul and funk band Maze.[1] He formed Maze, originally called Raw Soul, in his hometown of Philadelphia in 1970. After moving to San Francisco and an introduction to Marvin Gaye, Maze later released nine Gold albums and created a large and devoted following.
As a teenager, he formed The Blenders, a short-lived a cappelladoo-wop group that was influenced by The Dells, The Moonglows, and The Del Vikings. After the group dissolved, he started The Butlers in 1963 (which later became Frankie Beverly and the Butlers). It was the first group with which he recorded.[1] In 1967, he cut "If That's What You Wanted", which became a Northern soul standard. The group caught the attention of record producer Kenny Gamble, who eventually released their recordings.[3]
Music performed by The Butlers did not fit into the "Philly Sound"[citation needed] and, after some heavy touring, the group went to San Francisco. The unit was re-christened as Raw Soul and caught the attention of Marvin Gaye's sister-in-law.[1] Gaye featured them as an opening act at his shows and convinced Beverly to change the band's name to Maze.[1] The group's popularity was enhanced considerably in the UK by DJs Greg Edwards and Robbie Vincent in the late 1970s and early 1980s when they performed live at London's Lyceum Ballroom for broadcast on Capital Radio. They are best known there for their UK No. 57 hit single "Joy and Pain".[4]
In 2019, Beverly's hit single with Maze, "Before I Let Go" was covered by American singer Beyoncé as a bonus track on her fifth live album Homecoming: The Live Album. Beverly told Billboard that the cover was "one of the high points of (his) life... in a class of its own" and made him "feel bigger than ever! I feel like I have a huge smash out there."[5]
Keith Washington also covered "Before I Let Go", renamed, "We Need to Talk Before I Let Go", on his "You Make it Easy" album, 1993.
Style
Beverly's onstage attire (all-white custom-designed and made casual clothing, including slacks, a long-sleeved shirt, and a baseball cap) became his signature dress style over the years.[2] It was a tradition for the audience to wear all white to the concerts in honor of the group.
His son, Anthony, who toured as a drummer with Maze, along with his former wife, entertainment attorney Heather Beverly, organized a tribute album to Anthony's father called 'Silky Soul Music: An All-Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly' in 2009, together founding the record label Brantera, as an homage to the work of Maze. Mary J. Blige, Kenneth Brian Edmonds (Babyface), and Mint Condition were among the artists taking part in the album.[6]
.jpg)
