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Soul singer Frankie Beverly dies at 77

Frankie Beverly, the soul icon who rose to fame as the founder and frontman of the band Maze, has died at the age of 77. Beverly's family confirmed the singer's death on their social media accounts. “He lived his life with pure soul, as you would say, and to us, no one did it better,” the family statement said. “He lived for his music, his family and his friends.” The post said Beverly, whose real name was Howard Stanley Beverly, died on Monday. His cause of death was not disclosed. Born in Philadelphia, Beverly got his start in music early, performing as a soloist in church while growing up in the East Germantown neighborhood. As a teenager, he sang with an ensemble called The Silhouettes before forming his own doo-wop group, The Blenders. Legend has it that Beverly changed his first name to Frankie for the stage, as a tribute to singer Frankie Lymon, who rose to fame as a doo-wop singer as part of the group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. In 1970, Beverly formed the group Maze, originally known as Raw Soul. Their mix of soul, funk and R&B reportedly caught the attention of legendary singer Marvin Gaye, who invited her to tour with him as his opening act. This opened the door for Beverly and the band to years of hits and success, with hits such as “Joy and Pain,” “Golden Time of Day,” “We Are One,” “Happy Feelin's” and a song that has become “the unofficial theme of summer and any gathering of people who want to party — 'Before I Let Go!'” according to the band's website. “'Before I Let Go' became such a huge hit in the black community that Beyoncé covered it for her 2019 concert film 'Homecoming.' It is also the subject of a 2021 episode of Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris' New York Times podcast 'Still Processing.'” “She kept it a secret until her people called me one day… when they played it, I was blown away,” Beverly said of Beyoncé's rendition. “That's one of the highlights of my life.” Beverly and Maze continued to tour for decades, and in 2012 Beverly received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. He announced his retirement earlier this year. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Frankie Beverly, the soul icon who rose to fame as the founder and frontman of the band Maze, has died at the age of 77.

Beverly's family confirmed the singer's death on his social media accounts.

“He lived his life with pure soul, as you would say, and for us, no one did it better,” the family statement said. “He lived for his music, his family and his friends.”

The post said Beverly, whose real name was Howard Stanley Beverly, died on Monday. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Brian Stukes/Getty Images

Born in Philadelphia, Beverly began playing music at an early age, performing as a soloist in church during his childhood in the East Germantown neighborhood.

As a teenager, he sang with an ensemble called The Silhouettes before forming his own doo-wop group, The Blenders.

According to legend, Beverly changed his first name to Frankie for the stage, as a tribute to the singer Frankie Lymon, who became famous as a doo-wop singer as part of the group “Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers”.

In 1970, Beverly formed the group Maze, originally known as Raw Soul.

Their mix of soul, funk and R&B reportedly caught the attention of legendary singer Marvin Gaye, who invited them to tour with him as his opening act.

It opened the door for Beverly and the band to years of hits and success with hits like “Joy and Pain,” “Golden Time of Day,” “We Are One,” “Happy Feelin's” and a song that is touted as “the unofficial motto of summer and any gathering of people who come together to party – 'Before I Let Go!'” according to the band's website.

“Before I Let Go” became such a big hit in the black community that Beyoncé covered the song for her 2019 concert film “Homecoming.” The song is also the subject of a 2021 episode of Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris’ New York Times podcast “Still Processing.”

“She kept it a secret until her people called me one day… when they played it, I was blown away,” Beverly said of the Beyoncé rendition. “It's one of the highlights of my life.”

Beverly and Maze continued to tour for decades, and in 2012 Beverly received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. He announced his retirement earlier this year.

Information regarding funeral arrangements has not yet been announced.

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