Frankie Beverly, soulful frontman of Maze, dies at age 77

Summer, a time of yr while you rarely get to listen to his soulful voice, ends on a relatively sad note this morning as fans world wide learn that Frankie Beverly has died.

On Wednesday, September 11, the family of Maze co-founder and lead vocalist (*77*) Stanley Beverly announced his death in a post on the band’s website. Instagram.

“Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience,” the statement begins, giving the date of death: Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Beverly was 77 at the time of his death; he and Maze had just accomplished their farewell tour earlier this summer.

“At this time of sadness, reflection and remembrance, we kindly ask for privacy and understanding as we allow ourselves the space to grieve in our own way,” the statement continued. “This is a time 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.”

His family added that Beverly “lived his life with a pure soul, as they say, and to us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, his family and his friends.”

The statement ends with a straightforward call to motion: “Love one another, for He desires that for all of us.”

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Beverly was born and raised in Philadelphia, where his musical profession began as a youngster in a doo-wop band called the Blenders. He modified his name to Frankie around age 12 after hearing Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers (the doo-wop group behind the hit “Why Do Fools Fall in Love”), Washington Post reports. According to Philadelphia GrandstandAfter that group, Beverly formed The Butlers in 1963, the primary band he recorded with. The Butlers eventually moved to the West Coast, where they modified their name just a few more times before finally deciding on Maze.

With Maze, Beverly recorded nine gold albums, toured for over 50 years, and gave the world timeless classics like “Before I Let Go,” “Joy and Pain,” and “Golden Time of Day.” Their music became the soundtrack to many black lives, played at summer barbecues, family reunions, graduation parties, weddings, jazz festivals, and more. The color white also became synonymous with Maze and Beverly, who wore it so often on stage that became the official color chosen by fans during their concert eventsAs Maze fans world wide react to the news, many are noticing how integral Beverly’s voice was to black homes.

“Black family reunion singer and Black cookout. The voice of summer,” began the user’s tribute on Threads. “The one who called us together and reminded us that “we’re one”. The one who let us know that we would reach the “Golden Time of Day” (“while you find who you’re”). And just a beautiful artist and spirit. Rest in Paradise Frankie Beverly.”

Another user on Threads wrote: “His music takes me back to my childhood. Those moments are so nostalgic.”

“There’s something about a Frankie Beverly song that brings me peace, comfort and joy. It’s like losing someone close to you. Rest in peace, Uncle Frankie! We are One,” wrote one other on Threads.

IN tribute post John Legend wrote, “What I love about being an artist is that our work leaves a legacy that will outlive our time on Earth. Frankie brought so much joy to the world. His music will live on. He will always be a part of our culture, an essential part of the soundtrack to our celebrations, barbecues and family gatherings. May he rest in peace.”

Beverly’s family has not released details in regards to the singer’s death, nor those that survived him (as he was very private) or plans for a public memorial.