Frankie Beverly
Frankie Beverly (born Howard Beverly; December 6, 1946 – September 10, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and producer known primarily for his recordings with the soul and funk band Maze.[1] He formed Maze, originally called Raw Soul, in his hometown of Philadelphia in 1970. After moving to San Francisco and an introduction to Marvin Gaye, Maze later released nine Gold albums and created a large and devoted following. Beverly was the band’s writer, producer, and lead singer. He was known for his distinctive smooth baritone voice and charismatic stage presence.The All Music Guide wrote, “Frankie Beverly and Maze may be the ultimate urban contemporary group, much more soulful and funky than many of their counterparts.Beverly was born Howard Stanley Beverly on December 6, 1946, but changed his name to Frankie in honor of his idol Frankie Lymon.” Although the group has never won major awards they continue to attract sold-out audiences giving them the title “best kept secret in the industry”. After 50 years of performances and shows, Beverly performed his final concert in Philadelphia at the Dell Music Center, where Beverly had performed for decades.
Beverly’s signature style, with his soothing vocals and sophisticated musicianship, garnered a loyal fan base that continues to thrive. Despite never achieving massive commercial success, Frankie Beverly and Maze remain icons of classic soul music.
Early life and career
[edit]
Beverly was born in Philadelphia[1] and began singing gospel music as a schoolboy in a local church. He grew up in the East Germantown section of the city and was a graduate of the now defunct Germantown High School.
As a teenager, he formed The Blenders, a short-lived a cappella doo-wop group that was influenced by The Dells, The Moonglows, and The Del Vikings. After the group dissolved, he started The Butlers in 1963 (which became Frankie Beverly and the Butlers). It was the first group with which he recorded.[1] In 1967, he cut “If That’s What You Wanted”, which became a Northern soul standard. The group caught the attention of record producer Kenny Gamble, who eventually released their recordings.[2]
Music performed by The Butlers did not fit into the “Philly Sound”[citation needed] and, after some heavy touring, the group went to San Francisco. The unit was re-christened as Raw Soul and caught the attention of Marvin Gaye’s sister-in-law.[1] Gaye featured them as an opening act at his shows and convinced Beverly to change the band’s name to Maze.[1] The group’s popularity was enhanced considerably in the UK by DJs Greg Edwards and Robbie Vincent in the late 1970s and early 1980s when they performed live at London‘s Lyceum Ballroom for broadcast on Capital Radio. They are best known there for their UK No. 57 hit single “Joy and Pain”.[3]
In 2019, Beverly’s hit single with Maze, “Before I Let Go” was covered by American singer Beyoncé as a bonus track on her fifth live album Homecoming: The Live Album. Beverly told Billboard that the cover was “one of the high points of (his) life… in a class of its own” and made him “feel bigger than ever! I feel like I have a huge smash out there.”[4]
Style
[edit]
Beverly’s onstage attire (all-white custom-designed and made casual clothing, including slacks, a long-sleeved shirt, and a baseball cap) became his signature dress style over the years. It was a tradition for the audience to wear all white to the concerts in honor of the group.
His son, Anthony, who toured as a drummer with Maze, along with his former wife, entertainment attorney Heather Beverly, organized a tribute album to Anthony’s father called ‘Silky Soul Music: An All-Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly’ in 2009, together founding the record label Brantera, as an homage to the work of Maze. Mary J. Blige, Kenneth Brian Edmonds (Babyface), and Mint Condition were among the artists taking part in the album.[5]
Death
[edit]
Beverly died on September 10, 2024, at the age of 77.[6]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 331/2. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
- ^ Morris, Wesley; Wortham, Jenna; Dudley, Elyssa; Sarasohn, Sara; Weiss, Sasha; Fletcher, Phyllis; Lozano, Marion; Chablani, Mahima; Ibekwe, Desiree (May 20, 2021). “‘Before I Let Go’ is a Black Anthem and the Song of Every Summer”. The New York Times.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 357. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ “Frankie Beverly Responds to Beyonce Covering His Maze Hit ‘Before I Let Go'”. Billboard. April 24, 2019.
- ^ Silky Soul Music: An All-Star Tribute to Maze Various Artists at AllMusic. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- ^ Mitman, Hayden (September 11, 2024). “Legendary R&B artist, native Philadelphian Frankie Beverly dies at 77”. NBC10 Philadelphia.
External links
[edit]
- MazeMuze biography Archived September 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Frankie Beverly at AllMusic
- Frankie Beverly discography at Discogs
- Frankie Beverly at IMDb
- NPR audio feature: Frankie Beverly, the Soul of Maze with Ed Gordon
- PBS audio feature: Frankie Beverly with Tavis Smiley Archived September 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- 75-minute audio mix of Maze songs with dialogue from Frankie Beverly
- 1946 births
- 2024 deaths
- African-American record producers
- Record producers from Pennsylvania
- 20th-century African-American male singers
- 20th-century American male singers
- 20th-century American singers
- American male singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- American soul musicians
- Songwriters from Pennsylvania
- Musicians from Philadelphia
- Northern soul musicians
- Singers from Pennsylvania
- American funk musicians
- African-American songwriters
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- American male songwriters
