Frankie Beverly, the Germantown-born soul music legend who led the band Maze to R&B stardom and became a cornerstone of Black music culture, died Sept. 10 at his home in San Francisco. He was 77.
Beverly's family announced his death on the band's website, citing "our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly, known to the world as Frankie Beverly." They did not disclose the cause of death.
A fixture in the Black music scene for half a century, Beverly was renowned for his distinctive vocals, infectious melodies, and the communal celebrations his concerts became. His influence extended far beyond his chart success, inspiring artists from Beyonce to Jay-Z, even as he remained largely unknown to mainstream audiences.
Born Howard Stanley Beverly in Germantown, he rose from local high school bands to become a soul music powerhouse. Despite never achieving major crossover success, Beverly's impact on R&B and soul music was profound.
"Frankie Beverly may be the biggest R&B star you never heard of," J.D. Considine, a Baltimore Sun music critic, wrote in 1994, encapsulating Beverly's unique position in American music.
In a 1981 interview with this reporter for the now-defunct Philadelphia Journal, Beverly reflected on his career trajectory and the nature of his success.
"Of course, every performer would like to be loved or at least appreciated and recognized by all music fans," he said, "but I certainly do not have anything to complain about. I have achieved much more than I would have ever believed when I was growing up in Philly.”
Beverly and his band, Maze, never won a Grammy Award, but their impact on Black music culture was undeniable. They are enshrined in the Black Entertainment Television Hall of Fame, and their music has been covered by a who's who of contemporary artists, including Beyonce, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, and Lil Boosie.
The band's commercial success was substantial, if not mainstream. Maze placed 20 songs on Billboard's R&B singles chart, including nine in the Top 10, and 14 albums on the R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, two of which reached number one. Four of their singles and 10 of their albums also made the Billboard pop charts.
Beverly's musical journey began in a devout Christian home. His mother, Sarah, sang in a Germantown church choir, and his father, Howard Beverly Sr., was an ordained minister and truck driver. Young Howard, who later adopted the stage name Frankie in homage to 1950s rock star Frankie Lymon, taught himself piano and guitar, starting with gospel before transitioning to secular music.
"My parents encouraged me when I told them I wanted to pursue music," Beverly recalled in the 1981 interview, "even when I told them I wanted to do secular music. My favorites growing up were Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Lloyd Price and The Five Satins, and they all had grown up in the Black church and later transferred their passion and soulfulness to popular music."
Beverly was devastated when Lymon, whose hit "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" had deeply influenced him, died of a heroin overdose in 1968 at the age of 25.
Beverly's professional career began in his teens with The Silhouettes, which had a number-one hit with "Get a Job" in 1958. He later formed The Blenders with high school friends and was part of a group called The Butlers in the 1960s, though they did not achieve significant commercial success.
Seeking greater recognition, Beverly moved to California in the early 1970s and formed Raw Soul. The band's big break came when Marvin Gaye's sister-in-law saw them playing in small clubs in San Francisco and recommended them to the musical star. Impressed by their sound, Gaye took Raw Soul on tour in 1976 and helped secure a deal with Capitol Records. At Gaye's suggestion, the band changed its name to "Maze, Featuring Frankie Beverly."
Their self-titled debut album in 1977 was the first of nine to achieve gold certification, selling at least 500,000 units. The 1981 release "Live in New Orleans" is widely regarded as one of the best live albums ever recorded.
Beverly's impact extended beyond music. Earlier this year, after performing and touring for 50 years, he played a farewell concert at Philadelphia's Dell Music Center (formerly Robin Hood Dell), where Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, a self-proclaimed superfan, joined him on stage. The city also honored Beverly by renaming the 6000 block of Norwood Street in Germantown after him.
Throughout his career, Beverly maintained a modest public persona, often deflecting questions about his private life. He described himself as a private individual with a modest lifestyle.
Beverly's stage presence was as iconic as his music. He always performed in all-white attire, complete with a white baseball cap, a look that became his trademark.
As news of his death spread, fans and fellow artists shared memories of Beverly's impact. His family's statement captured the essence of his legacy: "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."
Beverly remained in the San Francisco area until his death. He is survived by his son, Anthony. Funeral arrangements are pending.
In his 1981 interview, Beverly's modesty shone through as he reflected on his success: "When I look out into the audience and see people smiling, clapping their hands and tapping their feet, so it would almost be selfish of me to ask for more." For generations of fans, Frankie Beverly and Maze provided the soundtrack to their lives, their concerts becoming communal celebrations of music and culture.
Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.
