Frankie Beverly, the esteemed R&B singer and frontman of Frankie Beverly and Maze, has passed away at the age of 77. His family confirmed the news via Instagram, noting that Beverly died on Monday, September 10. The family has requested privacy and has not disclosed further details about his death.
Born Howard Stanley Beverly in Philadelphia’s East Germantown neighborhood, Beverly began his musical career as a church soloist. As a teenager, he performed with “The Silhouettes” before establishing his own group, “The Blenders.” In 1970, Beverly founded “Raw Soul” in Philadelphia, which later evolved into “Frankie Beverly and Maze,” following a name change suggested by Marvin Gaye.
As the lead singer, songwriter, and producer for the group, Beverly’s contributions to music were profound. Earlier this year, a street in East Germantown was renamed “Frankie Beverly Way” in his honor. Philadelphia Councilmember Cindy Bass remarked, “Anyone who knows music knows that Philadelphia is a music town, and Frankie has made such a contribution.”
Beverly’s influence extended through his hit songs with Maze, including “Before I Let Go,” “Joy and Pain,” and “Happy Feelin’s,” which became staples in the Black community’s cultural events. Beyoncé notably covered “Before I Let Go,” underscoring Beverly’s impact on contemporary music.
Frankie Beverly and Maze concluded their “I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour” this summer, with their final performances at The Dell Music Center in North Philadelphia. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts honored Beverly on stage with a bouquet of flowers, expressing his grief on social media platform X. “His timeless music, his powerful words, and his lasting impact. I’m devastated to hear about this one. My prayers are with the Beverly family and the many Frankie fans across the world! His legacy will live on.”
Notable figures such as Questlove of The Roots, Patti LaBelle, and Magic Johnson also paid their respects. Philadelphia DJ Patty Jackson highlighted the emotional resonance of Beverly’s music, quoting lyrics from “Joy and Pain”: “You’re going to have joy. You’re going to have pain. You’re going to have sunshine. You’re going to have rain,” reflecting on the essence of life and Beverly’s musical legacy.
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