American singer, musician and founder of the R&B band Maze whose sensual voice was at the core of their sound
It was a source of frustration to Frankie Beverly, who has died aged 77, that he and his group Maze never enjoyed huge pop success, though they cracked the mainstream Top 30 with their albums Golden Time of Day (1978) and We Are One (1983). However he could also reflect that the group’s enduring status and faithful audiences allowed him valuable creative freedom.
While musical trends came and went, whether that was hip-hop or house, Maze were able to plough their own singular furrow. “I never saw us as just an R&B group or just a pop group either,” reflected Beverly. “It’s not easy to tag us.”