"Soul Singer Frankie Beverly Passes Away at 77"

Frankie Beverly, the renowned soul music legend known for founding and leading the band Maze, has passed away at 77.

Beverly's family announced his death through his social media channels.

In their statement, the family shared, "He lived his life with a pure soul, and for us, no one did it better. His passion was his music, family, and friends."

The announcement notes that Beverly, whose birth name was Howard Stanley Beverly, died on Monday. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.

Born in Philadelphia, Frankie Beverly began his musical journey early, performing as a soloist in church while growing up in the East Germantown neighborhood.

As a teenager, he was a member of The Silhouettes before creating his own doo-wop group, The Blenders.

According to legend, Beverly adopted the stage name Frankie as a tribute to Frankie Lymon, the renowned singer from Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, who gained fame with his doo-wop music.

In 1970, Beverly established the group Maze, initially known as Raw Soul.

Their unique blend of soul, funk, and R&B caught the eye of iconic singer Marvin Gaye, who invited them to join his tour as his opening act.

This opportunity paved the way for Beverly and the band to achieve numerous hits, including "Joy and Pain," "Golden Time of Day," "We Are One," "Happy Feelin’s," and the widely celebrated "Before I Let Go," often referred to as the unofficial anthem of summer and social gatherings, according to the band's website.

"Before I Let Go" became a significant cultural touchstone in the Black community, leading Beyoncé to cover it for her 2019 film concert, “Homecoming.” The song was also featured in a 2021 episode of the New York Times podcast “Still Processing,” hosted by Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris.

Beverly expressed his admiration for Beyoncé’s cover, saying, “She kept it under wraps until her team contacted me. When I heard it, I was blown away. This is one of the highlights of my life.”

Beverly and Maze continued to perform for many years, and in 2012, Beverly was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. He announced his retirement earlier this year.

Details about his funeral arrangements have not yet been released.