Frankie Beverly, founder of the legendary funk and soul band Maze, who released a number of gold albums in the 1970s and 1980s and had a generational hit with “Before I Let Go” in 1981, has died. He was 77 years old.
Beverly – born Howard Stanley Beverly – died on Monday, September 10, according to a statement from the musician’s family. A cause of death was not given.
“He lived his life with what you would say was a pure soul and for us, no one did it better,” the family continued. “He lived for his music, his family and his friends. Love one another as he would have wanted us all to love.”
The Beverly family also said, “During this time as we face feelings of grief, reflection and remembrance, we politely ask for privacy and understanding so that we have the space to grieve in our own way. This time 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.”
Beverly was known for his unique baritone voice, which was as melodic and sweet as it was skillful and stirring. Born in Philadelphia, he began his music career there with the band Raw Soul, but found more success after moving to San Francisco. There, Marvin Gaye took an interest in him, took Raw Soul on tour and encouraged them to change their name as well.
Between 1977 and 1993, Beverly and Maze were extremely successful, releasing eight studio albums and two live albums. Eight of these ten projects were certified gold, and two – the 1985 album – Love cannot be stopped and 1989 Silky soul — at the top of the Billboard R&B album charts. These two records also featured the group’s two number one songs on the R&B singles chart: “Back in Stride” and “Can’t Get Over You”.
Like many other black funk and soul luminaries of the era – including Teddy Pendergrass and the Gap Band – Maze’s success never developed into a mainstream crossover moment. Her singles occasionally made it into the upper echelons of the Hot 100 – reaching as high as number 25 on the Billboard 200 album charts. They were never nominated for a Grammy.
However, Beverly and the band left an indelible mark on black music and culture, most notably with “Before I Let Go.” As the title suggests, Beverly wrote the song about the struggle to let go of his feelings for a woman he wanted to be with, even though he knew the relationship wasn’t working. The original version, he told Being in 2020 wasn’t exactly a ballad, but it wasn’t a “groove song” either: “When the band got word of it, we started rehearsing, and that’s when it got the sound you hear now.”
In the four decades since its release, “Before I Let Go” has become a staple of celebrations. Perhaps in a nod to the track’s origins as a studio cut on a live album, Beyoncé famously recorded a cover of “Before I Let Go” for her 2019 live album. Homecoming. Beverly, in an interview with Billboardcalled the cover “a blessing” and added, “She has done so much, this is one of the highlights of my life.”
Of the song’s longevity, Beverly said, “Not many (artists) manage to do something like that. When I wrote the song, I didn’t plan on making it a hit. I just wanted to make a good record and make it what it is. I think when we started recording it, it had a good chance of making a splash, but I had no idea what it was going to become. I mean, it just shocked me. I mean, to hear you say it’s like the black national anthem, that’s even more than I can comprehend. It’s too impressive.”
While Maze released their last album, Back to basicsin 1993, the group has remained active as a touring band over the years. Earlier this year, Beverly announced a farewell tour, playing a few final shows in the spring and summer (Maze will continue with new singer Tony Lindsay).
“It’s been a great journey through the decades,” Beverly said at the time. “May the music of my legacy live on.”
