Frankie Beverly was the frontman and songwriter of the soul band Maze. The group became widely known as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, making his name inseparable from its warm, groove-driven sound and devoted live audience.
Beverly formed the group in Philadelphia in 1970 under the name Raw Soul. After the musicians moved to San Francisco, Marvin Gaye encountered them, supported their work, and encouraged the name change to Maze. Gaye also helped connect them with a broader audience and served as an important early influence.
Maze became known for songs including "Before I Let Go," "Joy and Pain," and "Golden Time of Day." Their music blended soul, funk, R&B, and relaxed live-band arrangements. "Before I Let Go" became a recurring celebration anthem and was later covered by Beyoncé on her 2019 Homecoming live album.
The common confusion comes from the group's changing billing. Maze is the band, while Frankie Beverly is its singer, principal songwriter, guitarist, and defining leader. Other options such as Cameo and Con Funk Shun were also influential funk and R&B groups, but they were not Beverly's band.