Starting as Raw Soul, Maze was formed in Philadelphia in 1970 by the group’s lead singer Frankie Beverly. The following year, the group changed coasts, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. They would go on to meet Motown legend Marvin Gaye, who took the group on the road with him and suggested they change their name from Raw Soul to Maze.

The group elevated from there, releasing nine gold albums between 1977 and 1993, starting with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly–which is also an alternate name for the group. Maze’s signature song is the 1981 hit “Before I Let Go” from their Live in New Orleans album. They also released the #1 R&B singles “Back in Stride” from their 1985 album Can’t Stop the Love and “Can’t Get Over You” from their 1989 album Silky Soul–both albums also reached #1 on the R&B charts.

While 1993’s Back to Basics was the group’s last album, Frankie Beverly and Maze continued to perform at shows such as Essence Fest for decades. Their legacy extended as their music was sampled in several hip-hop songs such as Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock’s “Joy and Pain,” 2Pac’s “Can U Get Away,” and 50 Cent’s “Hustler’s Ambition” among others. On the R&B side, Beyoncé released a cover of “Before I Let Go” in 2019 on her Homecoming live album and the tribute album An All-Star Tribute to Maze was released in 2009 featuring covers by artists such as Mary J. Blige, Mint Condition and Musiq Soulchild. Frankie Beverly passed away on September 10, 2024.