Maze featuring Frankie Beverly: Time Is On My Side

It’s funky Friday! Believe it or not, we are nearing the end of 2024, so I’ve decided to focus the next several weeks on artists who have died this year. These will be presented in no order, and I’ll start with Frankie Beverly, a soul legend who died on September 10, 2024. Beverly was the lead vocalist and guitarist for the soul group Maze (aka Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, aka Frankie Beverly and Maze). Although their highest chart position on the Billboard Top 40 was #67 in 1979 (“Feel That Your Feelin'”), they had 24 Top 40 R&B hits, including two chart-toppers (“Back In Stride” and “Can’t Get Over You”). They are better known for their smooth jams in the ‘80s, but Maze were funk masters in the late ‘70s and I’ve selected “Time Is On My Side,” the first cut from their 1977 self-titled debut. No matter the style, the smooth vocals of Frankie Beverly were always there. The best comparison to his style was Marvin Gaye, who “discovered” the band in the mid-70s and invited them to tour as his opening act. My favorite Maze album has always been 1989’s Silky Soul, mostly for the Gaye-influenced title track. It is astounding that Beverly never achieved the mainstream cross-over success of his contemporaries, such as Luther Vandross and Peabo Bryson, but hopefully the news of Beverly’s death will introduce him to a new generation (or reintroduce him to those who missed out the first time).

To learn more about Frankie Beverly, check out his Wikipedia page.

To listen to all of the songs of the day, check out the Radio Faux Show Song of the Day playlist.

• Uncategorized