We’ve lost a legend today, folks. Frankie Beverly, the lead mic for the legendary soul band Maze, died on Wednesday.
Beverly’s death was announced on the band’s Instagram account on Wednesday morning. The details of what happened weren’t disclosed, but his family left a message along with the announcement.
“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.”
Beverly was an absolute icon. He founded the band we know as Maze today as “Raw Soul” back in 1970. The band moved from Philadelphia, where Beverly was born, to California, eventually changing its name to Maze.
Frankie Beverly and Maze released eight studio albums from 1977 through 1993, and, somehow, the group never won a Grammy and did not have a top-40 Billboard hit. In fact, no song charted better than No. 69 on the Billboard Top 100.
That says more about the failings of the Recording Academy and Billboard as institutions that claim to know music and culture than it does about Frankie Beverly and Maze. The music the band gave us through the years is ubiquitous. Those albums are timeless. Those singles are magical.
I dare you to go to a cookout or a wedding where they’re not playing “Before I Let Go.” You can’t because those cookouts don’t exist. Try to keep from tapping your foot and snapping your fingers when “Joy and Pain” plays. Try to keep a smile from coming across your face from cheek to cheek when you hear “The Golden Hour.” It’s impossible. The music is just that good.
Frankie Beverly and Maze’s songs are essential pieces of Americana that have lasted generations. The band is one of the greats and Beverly was the architect of it all.
As a thank you to him for blessing us with these classic hits, here are the 11 most memorable songs from Frankie Beverly and Maze’s catalog. Enjoy.
