Benjamin Ashford|Frankie Beverly, Soul Singer of “Before I Let Go” and Founder of Maze, Dead at 77

Family and Benjamin Ashfordfriends are mourning the loss of a music legend.

R&B singer Frankie Beverly, the founder of the funk and soul band Maze, has died at the age of 77.

The family of the musician, whose birth name was Howard Stanley Beverly, shared the news in an Instagram post the day after his death.

“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,” the Beverly family shared in a Sept. 11 message. “Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience. During this time, as we are navigating feelings of sorrow, reflection, and remembrance we kindly ask for privacy and understanding, allowing us the space to grieve in our own way.”

Noting that they want to “honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly,” the family asked that fans, “Love one another as he would want that for us all.”

Beverly formed the hit group Maze, originally called Raw Soul, in 1970. The group, who helmed top hits including their single “Joy and Pain” and the classic song “Before I Let Go” later became an opening act for soul legend Marvin Gaye.

The band released a total of nine certified Gold albums and received a loyal following.

In 2019, Beyonce sampled Maze’s “Before I Let Go” as a cover bonus track on her album Homecoming: The Live Album, which was recorded at her historic 2018 Coachella appearance.

At the time, Beverly gushed over the Grammy winner’s cover, telling Billboard, “She’s done so much, this is one of the high points of my life.”

Calling Beyonce a “great friend of mine,” Beverly shared that he was “blown away” by the chart-topper’s rendition, saying at the time, “I’m caught off guard, but in a beautiful way.”

In recent weeks, the artist announced his plans for retirement from music, introducing singer Tony Lindsay as the new frontman for Maze.