Maze singer Frankie Beverly dies aged 77

“Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience,” Beverly’s family said in a statement.

“During this time, as we are navigating feelings of sorrow, reflection, and remembrance we kindly ask for privacy and understanding, allowing us the space to grieve in our own way.

“This period for is one of healing, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honour the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly known to the world as Frankie Beverly.

“He lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends. Love one another as he would want that for us all.”

Beverly’s music career began in the 1960s with the doo-wop group The Blenders, before later forming the soul group The Butlers.

Maze were formed by Beverly in Philadelphia in 1970, but they were originally called Raw Soul.

They were convinced to change their name by Marvin Gaye, who they supported on tour.

The band went on to release nine albums, between 1977 and 1993, and their hits included Happy Feelings and While I’m Alone.

Beyoncé covered Beverly’s hit single Before I Let Go in 2019 as a bonus track on Homecoming: The Live Album.

Beverly later told Billboard, external that the cover made him “feel bigger than ever”.

“She’s a great friend of mine, but I didn’t know she was going to do this,” he said at the time.

He added that it was “one of the high points of [his] life”.