THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME….FRANKIE BEVERLY

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time” Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Month’s now, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of “Top to Bottom” of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 10…………..FRANKIE BEVERLY

Frankie Beverly was Born on 6th December 1946 in the US City of Philadelphia PA.

As a Young Boy he Sung Gospel Music in his Local Church, and by the time he Reached his Teenage Years, He had Formed a Doo-Wop Group by the Name of “The Blenders”

The Group did not Last too long and by 1963, Frankie Beverly had Formed another Band by the name of “The Butlers”

During the Latter part of the 60’s the Band caught the Attention of Kenny Gamble, and went on to Record with Gamble.

But during 1970 another Name Change Happened, this time they Changed it to “Raw Soul”

By 1971 it was Decided that the “Raw Soul” Sound didn’t Suit the “Philly Sound” so Frankie Beverly and the Band Re-Located to California, where the Music was more Laid Back! 

As the 70’s went by, the Band were soon Discovered by the Sister-in-law of Marvin Gaye, and soon after Marvin Gaye was using “Raw Soul” as his Opening Act while on the Road. 

Marvin Gaye Loved the band but did not Like their Name, so he Persuaded Frankie Beverly to have another Name Change, and this time it Worked and by 1976 “Maze” had Signed for Capitol Records!

By 1977, Maze Released their Debut Album on “Capitol Records” called Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, it was to Start a Run of Success that had 8 Studio Albums Released over about a 16 Year Period, and all of them Attained “Gold Status”

The Album had 2 Single Releases that were “While I’m Alone” which Reached Number 89 on the US Pop Chart and Number 21 on the US R&B Chart and followed by “Lady of Magic” which Reached Number 108 on US Pop Chart and Number 13 on the US R&B Chart.

Over their Period of Success, Maze only had 2 Number One’s on the US R&B Chart, and they were “Back in Stride” in 1985 and “Cant Get Over You” in 1989.

My Favorite 2 Album’s by “Maze & Frankie Beverly” were “We Are One” in 1983 and “Cant Stop The Love” from 1985.

Maze were not a Big Recording Band, in fact they only ever Released 10 Albums and 2 of them were Live Recordings!
but they were by Far one of the Best Loved Bands, Especially in the U.K!

MAZE DISCOGRAPHY

8… STUDIO ALBUMS                             

2… LIVE ALBUMS

5… COMPILATIONS

30… SINGLES

For a More In-Depth look into Frankie Beverly & Maze Check out these Previous Posts, in 5 Parts: Starting Here

Checkout The Best of Frankie Beverly & MazE

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MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY Part 1

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!