Frankie Beverly, legendary R&B singer and Maze frontman, dies at 77

Frankie Beverly, the legendary R&B singer from Philadelphia, has passed away at the age of 77. His family announced the news on Instagram, stating that he died on Monday, Sept. 10. The family requested privacy and did not provide details regarding his death.

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Born Howard Stanley Beverly, he grew up in Philadelphia's East Germantown neighborhood and began his musical journey as a church soloist. As a teenager, he sang with "The Silhouettes" before forming his own group, "The Blenders." In 1970, Beverly created the group "Raw Soul" in Philadelphia, which later became "Frankie Beverly and Maze." Marvin Gaye played a significant role in their early success and suggested the name change.


Beverly was known as the lead singer, songwriter, and producer of Frankie Beverly and Maze. In May, a street in East Germantown was named "Frankie Beverly Way" in his honor. Councilmember Cindy Bass said, "Anyone who knows music knows that Philadelphia is a music town, and Frankie has made such a contribution."

Songs by Frankie Beverly and Maze such as "Before I Let Go," "Joy and Pain," and "Happy Feelin's" became integral to the Black community’s cultural events. Beyoncé covered "Before I Let Go" in her 2019 live album "Homecoming."

The band finished their "I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour" earlier this summer, with their final shows at The Dell Music Center in North Philadelphia. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts paid tribute to Beverly by giving him a bouquet of flowers on stage. Hurts expressed his condolences on X, saying, "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."

Other notable figures such as Questlove from The Roots, Patti LaBelle, and Magic Johnson also paid tribute to Beverly. Philadelphia DJ Patty Jackson highlighted the deep connections created by Beverly's music, stating, "His music connected. When he wrote 'Joy and Pain,' think of the lyrics, 'You're going to have joy. You're going to have pain. You're going to have sunshine. You're going to have rain,' and that's life."