Frankie Beverly, a legendary R&B performer and Philadelphia native, has died. He was 77. On Tuesday morning, his family revealed the devastating news on Instagram. According to the article, Beverly, real name Howard Stanley Beverly, died on Monday, September 10.”As the saying goes, he lived his life with a pure soul, and no one did it better for us. “He lived for his music, family, and friends,” the statement stated. The family has not disclosed any specifics about Beverly’s death and has requested privacy during this terrible time. Beverly began his musical career early, performing as a soloist in church while growing up in Philadelphia’s East Germantown. As an adolescent, he sang with an ensemble named “The Silhouettes” before forming his doo-wop band, “The Blenders.”
In 1970, he created the “Raw Soul” ensemble in Philadelphia, later known as “Frankie Beverly and Maze.” According to his website, Beverly then relocated to San Francisco, where he collaborated with legend Marvin Gaye. “The Motown maestro would take the group under his wing, and Gaye was the one who suggested they change their name. “Frankie Beverly and Maze were born,” the website said. Beverly founded the band Frankie Beverly and Maze and served as its lead vocalist, songwriter, and producer. Beverly, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Councilmember Cindy Bass, and neighborhood representatives gathered in May to dedicate “Frankie Beverly Way” in East Germantown.
Beverly and his band recently concluded their “I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour” earlier this summer. His final performances were at the Dell Music Center in North Philadelphia. Jalen Hurts, the Eagles quarterback, joined Beverly on stage and greeted him with flowers. “His music resonated. Consider the lyrics to ‘Joy and Pain,’ which say, ‘You’re going to have joy. You are going to experience pain. You are going to have sunshine. “You’re going to get rain, and that’s life,” Jackson added. “He was an incredible artist who demonstrated that he didn’t need to win all major accolades. It’s a shame he hasn’t won a Grammy.”
