One of the Better Soul Bands from the 70’s & 80’s was Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, they seemed to have a Bigger Following in UK than the US!
They Toured the UK several times, I unfornately never see them, the closest I got to seeing them was owning a DVD of theirs, “LIVE IN LONDON” Recorded in March of 1994, that is a Great DVD!
Maze always had the Backing from plenty of Club and Radio DJ’s in the UK, including one of the Biggest “Robbie Vincent”
Maze were formed in 1976 by Philadelphian Born, Songwriter, Producer, Arranger, Lead Singer, Guitarist & Keyboard Player, Frankie Beverly.
Maze was not his First attempt of forming a Band/Group, back in his Teens, F.B formed a Doo-Wop Group called “The Blenders” this was Short Lived and after they Split, F.B Formed a New Group Called “The Butlers” this was the First Band F.B Recorded with back in 1963!
As time went by “The Butlers” were spotted by Record Producer “Kenny Gamble” (before he went on to Produce with Leon Huff for Philadelphia International Records He was to Record & Produce Tracks for The Butlers.
As it later turned out “The Butlers” Sound did not Suit the “Philly Sound” so Frankie Beverly decided to Leave Philadelphia and Re-locate to San Francisco, California.
With a Name Change to “Raw Soul” around 1971, they had a couple of Releases on the Gregar Record Label, but without much Suceess, this was to change, when they were Seen Performing by either Marvin Gaye’s Girlfriend or Sister in Law (depending on which Website you read, this also applies to when they Relocated & Changed the Name).
But what ever was right, it was during this period Marvin Gaye was using “Raw Soul” as his Opening Act, when Touring, it was also during this time that “Raw Soul” became The House Band in a Local Club in San Francisco called “The Scene”
By 1976 Marvin Gaye persuaded Frankie Beverly to again Change the Name of the Band, this is when “Maze” were Born!
It was Soon after this time that Maze signed for Capitol Records and the following year in 1977 , Maze Released their Debut Album.
A couple of Facts concerning Frankie Beverly, He was Born on 06/12/1946, making him now 63 Years of Age, and He was actually Called Howard Beverly at Birth, but Changed his name to “Frankie” after His Favorite Singer in the middle 1950’s, Doo-Wop Singer “Frankie Lymon”
Download some MAZE!
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