Frankie Beverly & Maze – Soul Music Model
November 24, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Frankie Beverly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 6th December 1946 and is a renowned singer, producer, songwriter and founder. He is well known for his contributions as a soul music singer.As a young school boy he used to sing in the church in Philadelphia. He started his career as a gospel singer at the age of 12 when he toured with The Silhouttes. He formed a group, “The Blenders” when he was a teenager, which was really short-lived. As a professional star his group “The Butlers” was formed in 1963 when he recorded his albums. Kenny Gamble discovered the group and released their recordings. The group did not fare well even after heavy touring and they relocated to California where the group changed the name to “Raw Soul”. Later Marvin Gaye, convinced Beverley to change the name to Maze.
As a style icon for Maze, Beverly dressed onstage with all white clothing making it a signature dress for his band.
After much haze, Maze signed a contract with Capital Records in 1976, after Gaye introduced the group to the VP of Capital Records, Larkin Arnold. It was then that the group got to release their debut album “LP, Maze featuring Beverly” IN 1977. This album made path for the group and various singles were recorded which include “Happy Feelin’s”, “Lady of Magic” and “While I’m Alone”, which gave the group their first gold record and helped the creation of huge fame. The band had successful albums like “Golden Time of Day” in 1978, “Joy and Pain” in 1980 and “Inspiration” in 1979 which marked their presence in the music industry.
The band recorded their best acclaimed recording at the Saenger Theatre in 1980 which is “Live in New Orleans”. Three songs from the recording topped the R&B charts which included “We Need Love To Live”, “Before I Let Go” and “Running Away”. By now the band was believed to be one of the best in American soul music and acclaimed by most critics. The band found fans from UK and got good support from British DJ Robbie Vincent. After signing with Warner Bros, and releasing the hit album “Silky Soul”, and “Back to Basics” in 1993, the band had saw their albums gone “Gold” in 1994.
Maze gave several albums including “Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly” in 1977, “Golden Time of Day” in 1978, “Inspiration” in 1979, “Joy and Pain” in 1980, “Live in New Orleans” in 1981, “We Are One” in 1983, “Can’t Stop the Love” in 1985, “Live in Los Angeles” in 1986, “Silky Soul” in 1989 and “Back to Basics” in 1993. Their compilation albums include “The Greatest Hits of Maze” in 1989, “Anthology” in 1996 and “Greatest Hits” in 2004.
Their Hit singles include “Lady of Magic” in 1977, “While I’m Alone” in 1977, “Golden Time of Day” in 1978, “I Wish You Well” in 1978, “Travellin Man” in 1978, “Workin Together” in 1978, “Feel That You’re Feelin” in 1979, “Timmin” in 1979, “Souther Girl” in 1980, “The Look in Your Eyes” in 1980, “Before I Let You Go” in 1981, “Running Away” in 1981, “Before I Let You Go” in 1981, “We Need Love to Live” in 1982, “Love Is the Key” in 1983, “Never Let You Down” in 1983, “We Are One” in 1983, “I Wanna Thank You” in 1984, “Back in Stride” in 1985, “Too Many Games” in 1985, “I Want to Feel Wanted” in 1985, “I Wanna Be With You” in 1986, “When You Love Someone” in 1986, “Joy and Pain” in 1989, “Can’t Get Over You” in 1989, “Silky Soul” in 1989, “Love’s On the Run” in 1990, “Songs of Love” in 1990, “Laid, Back Girl” in 1993, “The Morning After” in 1993 and “What Goes Up” in 1994.
Frankie has been quite popular with Maze as his voice created magic in several albums and he continues to tour the U.S. and Europe for numerous shows.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
Ah the funky bass! The jazzy soulfulness of Maze. These guys were the epitome of laid back cool and spawned a bunch of imitators but none so cool as they.
I find Frankie Beverly’s signature dressing style to be really cool. How many can carry off white clothes with such a lot of panache? He is the perfect Mr. Cool. The Blenders, Butlers, and Raw Soul are good names for music bands, I feel. Whoever thought of the names must have been a cool guy.
Maze is one of my favorite boy bands and I am very fond of their music. Their debut album, “LP Maze featuring Beverly” was wonderful and the singles were absolutely incredible. “Lady of Magic”, “While I’m Alone”, and “Happy Feelin’s” are just like wow. Keep up the good work Maze.
Yeah that is for sure. She has indeed moved way beyond here initial days of “I am Love” and “Look What You’re Doing to the Man”. However, her first albums were quite good and she had proved that she was there to conquer everyone’s hearts with her music. She was an amazing actress as well.
I think you are talking about Melba Moore. Yeah in the late 1970s, I was completely hooked on to the Maze. Man, the “Golden Time of Day” was a great great album. Even today, I am deeply in love with the awesome singles of “Inspiration” and “Joy and Pain. It is true, that these guys are real role models for soul music.
You made me happy, This you can bet, You split right beside me, yeah, And I won’t forget from “Before I let Go”. A very beautiful song.
Maze is like the best in soul music. “Lady of Magic”, “Golden Time of Day”, “Travellin Man”, and “I Wish You Well” are my favorite oldies. How can I forget “While I’m Alone”, That was such a big hit way back in the ’70s, but in love to hear it now as well.
I think the 1980s saw a better version of Maze. The band was at its best with singles like “Souther Girl”, “The Look in Your Eyes”, “Before I Let You Go”, “Running Away”, “Love Is the Key”, and “We Need Love to Live”. I love all the songs. Personally I am a very big fan of “Silky Soul”.
Yeah all the imitators have tried to ape the band, come and gone, but none could surpass the funk and soul of Maze. Their songs were so fabulously cool, unhurried and relaxed. Can we ever find such cool guys again? That would not be possible. “Look What You’re Doing to the Man” is my favorite track.
Beverly noted that Maze stays together by sticking to its “organic” formula, which was developed in the 1960s.
He is mentioned in the song “If I Could Make the World Dance” by R. Kelly on the Happy People/U Saved Me album. Kelly says that Beverly also inspired him to write the track “Love Street”.
Asked what he wants to accomplish in the future, Frankie reflects, “The biggest thing is being able to keep up with what people expect of us. My thing is trying never to let the people down. You know, I still get butterflies real bad before I go on stage but once I hit that stage, I’m ready. But I don’t take anything for granted and I know you have to earn your wings everyday…”
Out side of Earth Wind and Fire this is one of the tightest groups in the world.
I guess if the young singers today had to play their own music, they would be up the creek. This is what so good old school music. Maze is just plain pure soul R&B singing, nothing fake about them! Fankie just make any one listen move to the groove.
In 1989, Maze left Capitol for Warner Bros. and recorded Silky Soul; the title track, an ode to Marvin Gaye, was a major hit.
IM FROM D.C AND . HAS BEEN FOLLOWING FRANKIE BEVERLY,FOR AS LONG AS 5 YEARS OLD MY ;MOTHER WAS A SYLIST AND SHE USED DO ;[BUGS].HAIR WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL ,MAZE SHOULD HAVE A GRAMMY 4 ALL GREAT MUSIC ,MY SON IS 8YRS OLD AND LOVES MAZE ALSO,THATS SOUL MUSIC AND IF I DATE ANYMAN AND HE DOES NOT LIKE MAZE I CAN NOT DATE HIM ,IM MAZE BIGGEST FAN,