Maze frontman and soul legend Frankie Beverly dies, age 77

11 September, 2024

NME News

Frankie Beverly, the Maze frontman and soul and funk legend, has died at the age of 77.

This morning (September 11), Beverly’s family announced the news, sharing that he died yesterday.

They posted from his Instagram account, “Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience … “This period is one 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.”

The family continued, “He lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends. Love one another as he would want that for us all.”

After a career that spanned over six decades, Beverly played a series of farewell shows this year, including a show at the Dell Music Center in his native Philadelphia. He said that he’d be passing on the lead vocalist role to Tony Lindsay, with Maze staying together as Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly.

Jalen Hurts, who plays for the NFL team the Philadelphia Eagles, was at the show and appeared on stage with Beverly, and he’s paid tribute on X, formerly Twitter.

Hurts wrote, “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 forever. Rest easy my friend. Long Live Frankie.”

DJ Heat also paid tribute, writing, “So glad that Frankie Beverly got to feel all the love across the country on his farewell tour this year. Rest easy, legend! Your music will continue to bring together families for generations to come!”

Beverly was born in December 1946, and began his career in the 1960s. In 1970, he formed the band Maze, then known as Raw Soul, after which they moved to San Francisco and were mentored by Marvin Gaye. Over the years, the band released eight albums, and Beyoncé covered one of their biggest singles, ‘Before I Let Go’, on her live album ‘Homecoming’ in 2019. Beverly told Billboard that year that it was “one of the high points” of his life.

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