The silky-voiced Frankie Beverly was the man behind Maze after forming the group as Raw Soul in their hometown of Philadelphia in 1970. That band released a few singles but never had a hit, moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in the early ’70s. They caught the attention of Marvin Gaye, who took them out on tour and became a mentor for Beverly. Rechristened as Maze, they had hits for Capitol Records through the mid ’80s, initially funk-based but moving to a quiet storm sound. The group remained a popular live act, especially in New Orleans, where they closed the Jazz & Heritage Festival yearly. Frankie Beverly passed away in 2024 at the age of 77.