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Frankie Beverly | |
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.jpg) Beverly in 2002 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Howard Stanley Beverly (1946-12-06)December 6, 1946 |
| Died | September 10, 2024(2024-09-10) (aged 77) |
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| Years active | 1963–2024 |
| Formerly of | Maze |
Howard Stanley Beverly (December 6, 1946 – September 10, 2024), known asFrankie Beverly, was an American singer, songwriter, and producer known primarily for his recordings with thesoul andfunk bandMaze.[1] He formed Maze, originally called Raw Soul, in his hometown ofPhiladelphia in 1970. After moving toSan Francisco and an introduction toMarvin Gaye, Maze later released nineGold albums and created a large and devoted following.
Howard Stanley Beverly was born inPhiladelphia[1] and began singinggospel music as a schoolboy in a local church.[2] He grew up in the EastGermantown section of the city and was a graduate of the now defunctGermantown High School.[2]
As a teenager, he formed The Blenders, a short-liveda cappelladoo-wop group that was influenced byThe Dells,The Moonglows, andThe Del Vikings. After the group dissolved, he started The Butlers in 1963 (which later 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 aNorthern soul standard. The group caught the attention of record producerKenny Gamble, who eventually released their recordings.[3]
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 ofMarvin 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 DJsGreg Edwards andRobbie Vincent in the late 1970s and early 1980s when they performed live atLondon'sLyceum Ballroom for broadcast onCapital Radio. They are best known there for their UK No. 57 hit single "Joy and Pain".[4]
In 2019, Beverly's hit single with Maze, "Before I Let Go" was covered by American singerBeyoncé as a bonus track on her fifth live albumHomecoming: The Live Album. Beverly toldBillboard 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."[5]
Keith Washington also covered "Before I Let Go", renamed, "We Need to Talk Before I Let Go", on his "You Make it Easy" album, 1993.
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.[2] 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), andMint Condition were among the artists taking part in the album.[6]
Beverly died on September 10, 2024, at the age of 77.[7][8][9][10][11][12]
In 2006, Beverly received theRhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award.[13][14]
At theBET Awards 2012, Beverly received a Lifetime Achievement Award.[15][16]
On February 25, 2024, Beverly received aTV One Urban One Honors Living Legend Award.[17][18][19][20]
On March 14, 2024, Beverly received theNAACP Image Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.[21]
On May 18, 2024, Philadelphia City Council named the Germantown street that Beverly grew up in his honor.[22]
On October 6, 2024, inducted to theNational Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
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