He had announced a short farewell tour earlier this year and said he would retire after more than 50 years in the music business.
Frankie Beverly, the lead singer and songwriter of the soul and funk band Maze, who wrote and performed songs including “Golden Time of Day,” “Joy and Pain,” “Happy Feelin’s” and others that provided the soundtrack to countless summer cookouts and family reunions for more than five decades, died on Tuesday. He was 77.
His death was announced in a statement by his family posted to his Instagram account. A cause of death was not given.
“He lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better,” the statement said. “He lived for his music, family and friends.”
Earlier this year, Mr. Beverly announced a farewell tour with a handful of dates. He said he would go on the road one last time and then retire.
“Thank you so much for the support given to me for over 50 years as I pass on the lead vocalist torch to Tony Lindsay,” Mr. Beverly said in a statement to Billboard at the time. “The band will continue on as Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly. It’s been a great ride through the decades. Let the music of my legacy continue.”
It would be difficult to count the number of artists who have cited Mr. Beverly’s music as inspiration or sampled from his ever-expanding playbook of infectious melodies and harmonies, but many have lovingly covered his work — some with more fanfare than others.
Mr. Beverly’s 1981 song “Before I Let Go,” which The New York Times described in 2021 as having a unique ability to gather and galvanize, was covered by Beyoncé on her live album “Homecoming” in 2019.
In 1970 in Philadelphia, Mr. Beverly formed the group “Raw Soul” and soon moved to San Francisco. Marvin Gaye eventually took the group under his wing, according to Mr. Beverly’s official website. Mr. Gaye also suggested the group change its name to Frankie Beverly and Maze.
The group released a debut album in 1977 under Capitol Records and released at least eight more albums, not including live recordings, over the next few decades, including “Silky Soul” in 1989 and “Back to Basics” in 1993.
A full obituary will follow.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
