Maze (band)

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Maze
Frankie Beverly of Maze performing in 2002
Frankie Beverly of Maze performing in 2002
Background information
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresR&B, soul, funk
Years active1970–Present
LabelsCapitol, Warner Bros.
MembersCarl Wheeler
Ordeen Mays Jr.
Vernon Black
Larry Wims
Kevin Lloyd
Kevin Stancil
Marlon Curry
Past membersFrankie Beverly
Roame Lowery
Sam Porter
Robin Duhe
Wayne Thomas
Joe Provost
Ahaguna Sun
Ron Smith
Billy Johnson
Phillip Woo
Wayne "Ziggy" Lindsay
Vernon White
McKinley "Bug" Williams
William Bryant
John "Jubu" Smith
Vance Taylor
Larry "Bear Williams" Kimpel
Calvin Napper
Daniel Weatherspoon

Maze, also known as Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly and Frankie Beverly & Maze, is an American soul band founded by Frankie Beverly in Philadelphia in 1970.[1] Under its original name Raw Soul, the band moved to San Francisco and was introduced to Marvin Gaye. Gaye took the group on the road with him as one of his opening acts, and in 1976, he suggested that they change their name from Raw Soul.[1]

Maze released nine Gold albums from 1977 to 1993.[2] Their well-known songs include "Happy Feelings," "While I'm Alone," "Golden Time of Day," “Southern Girl,” "The Look in Your Eyes," "Joy and Pain," "Before I Let Go," "We Are One," "Back in Stride," "Can't Get Over You" and "The Morning After."[3] The band has maintained a large and devoted following.[1]

Career

[edit]

Frankie Beverly started the band as Raw Soul in 1970.[4] They recorded a couple of singles on the small Gregar label, but without any major hits. With a few personnel changes, a move from Philadelphia to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1971, and an introduction to Marvin Gaye, the band became an immediate success.[4] Gaye took the band on the road with him as one of his curtain-raising acts, and in 1976, he suggested that they change their name from Raw Soul to something more appealing. And so, with a lot of back and forth throwing names around, founding member Roame came up with the name Maze.[4]

Maze signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in 1976, and released their debut album, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, in 1977.[4] Hit singles from that album include "Happy Feelin's", "While I'm Alone", and "Lady of Magic", giving them their first gold record and earning Maze a devoted following. They had success with the albums Golden Time of Day (1978), Inspiration (1979), and Joy and Pain (1980). The group has said that their hit single “Southern Girl” was dedicated to all southern women from Virginia to Texas.[5] Their next recording was Live in New Orleans, three quarters of which was recorded at the Saenger Theatre, on November 14–15, 1980. Three of those songs were on the US R&B chart, including "Running Away", "Before I Let Go", and "We Need Love to Live". By that time, the band had a reputation in America and enjoyed a following in the United Kingdom with promotional support from the British DJ Robbie Vincent. In May 1985, Maze sold out eight nights at the Hammersmith Odeon.[6]

The band released their next album, Can't Stop the Love in March 1985,[4] which featured the group's first number one R&B hit "Back In Stride." The Top 5 follow-up, "Too Many Games" was also featured on the album. The latter single became the band's biggest hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 36 on the UK Singles Chart.[7]

In 1989, they signed with Warner Bros. and released the hit album Silky Soul, plus Back to Basics in 1993,[4] and released the live DVD recording at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1994. The two albums also attained gold disc status. They had another number one R&B success with "Can't Get Over You". In 2009, a tribute to the hits of Maze was released. Called Silky Soul Music: An All Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, it included modern stars performing Maze's biggest hits with Maze acting as the backing band.[5]

In recent years, it has become tradition for the audience to honor the group by dressing in all white attire, as the group has often worn while performing. On September 2, 2011, their percussionist and background singer, McKinley "Bug" Williams, died suddenly of an apparent heart attack.[8][9] On May 9, 2023, it was reported that due to a labor dispute with Frankie's management, long-time Maze band members, Jubu, Vance Taylor, Larry Kimpel, Calvin Napper and Daniel Weatherspoon along with original member Roame left and started their own group, TMF "The Music Forever" Formerly of Maze. However, Beverly remained and began performing with new band members hired via Frankie's management.[10] Frankie Beverly hung up his microphone in July 2023 with his final two concerts being held fittingly in his Hometown of Philadelphia at the Dell Music Center. Following Beverly’s retirement, the band formerly known as “Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly” plans to carry on as “Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly.” The new lead singer is Tony Lindsay, formerly of Santana.

On September 10, 2024, Frankie Beverly passed away at the age of 77.[11]

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[12] 		US
R&B
[12] 		CAN
[13] 		UK
[7]
1977 Maze featuring Frankie Beverly 52 6 — — Capitol
1978 Golden Time of Day 27 9 83 —
1979 Inspiration 33 5 54 —
1980 Joy and Pain 31 5 — —
1983 We Are One 25 5 — 38
1985 Can't Stop the Love 45 1 — 41
1989 Silky Soul 37 1 — 43 Warner Bros.
1993 Back to Basics 37 3 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

[edit]
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications Record label
US
[12] 		US
R&B
[12] 		UK
[7]
1981 Live in New Orleans 34 3 — Capitol
1986 Live in Los Angeles 92 12 70
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

[edit]
Year Album Peaks Certifications Record label
US
R&B
[12]
1988 Southern Girl — Capitol
1989 The Greatest Hits of Maze...Lifelines, Vol. 1 57
1996 Anthology 57 The Right Stuff
1998 Greatest Slow Jams —
2002 Classic Masters — Capitol
2004 Greatest Hits 79 The Right Stuff
2011 Greatest Hits — Capitol
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[12] 		US
R&B
[12] 		NL
[14] 		UK
[7]
1977 "While I'm Alone" 89 21 — — Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
"Lady of Magic" 108 13 — —
1978 "Workin' Together" — 9 — — Golden Time of Day
"Golden Time of Day" (A-side) — 39 — —
"Travelin' Man" (B-side) — — —
"I Wish You Well" — 61 — —
1979 "Feel That You're Feelin'" 67 7 — — Inspiration
"Timin'" — 55 — —
1980 "Southern Girl" — 9 — — Joy and Pain
"The Look in Your Eyes" — 29 — —
"Joy and Pain" — — — —
1981 "Running Away" — 7 — — Live in New Orleans
"Before I Let Go" — 13 — —
1982 "We Need Love to Live" — 29 — —
1983 "Love Is the Key" 80 5 — 88 We Are One
"Never Let You Down" — 26 — —
"We Are One" — 47 — 86
"I Wanna Thank You" — 59 — —
1985 "Back in Stride" 88 1 — 79 Can't Stop the Love
"Too Many Games" 103 5 — 36
"I Want to Feel I'm Wanted" — 28 — —
1986 "I Wanna Be with You" — 12 — 55 Live in Los Angeles
"When You Love Someone" — 38 — —
1989 "Joy and Pain" (re-release) — — — 57 Joy and Pain
"Can't Get Over You" — 1 — 89 Silky Soul
"Silky Soul" — 4 76 —
1990 "Love's on the Run" — 13 — —
"Songs of Love" — 37 — —
1993 "Laid Back Girl" — 15 — — Back to Basics
"The Morning After" 115 19 — —
1994 "What Goes Up" — 32 — —
2001 "Teach Each Other" — 123 — — The Brothers - Music from the Motion Picture
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Videos

[edit]
  • Live in New Orleans (1981)
  • Live in Los Angeles (1986)
  • Live in London (1994)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Henderson, Alex. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "American certifications – Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "Maze featuring Frankie Beverly Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 813. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  5. ^ a b Rizik, Chris (May 5, 2007). "Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Biography". Soul Tracks. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  6. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 404. CN 5585.
  7. ^ a b c d "UK Charts > Maze featuring Frankie Beverly". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  8. ^ Morrison, John F. (September 9, 2011). "McKinley 'Bug' Williams, toured with R&B group". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 11, 2021. McKinley died last Friday of an apparent heart attack.
  9. ^ "McKinley Williams Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "REPORT: Frankie Beverly and Original Members of MAZE Split, Touring Separately This Summer". Our Black Union. May 9, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Moorman, Taijun (September 11, 2024). "Frankie Beverly, soulful 'Before I Let Go' singer and Maze founder, dies at 77". USA Today. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "US Charts > Maze featuring Frankie Beverly". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  13. ^ "CAN Charts > Maze featuring Frankie Beverly". RPM. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "NL Charts > Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly". Dutch Charts. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
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