Atlanta Mourns the Loss of Soul Legend Frankie Beverly
ATLANTA — Following the passing of renowned soul singer Frankie Beverly, Atlanta’s community and leaders are joining hands to celebrate his remarkable life and legacy. Mayor Andre Dickens expressed his heartfelt condolences to Beverly’s family and acknowledged the significant impact he had on the city’s cultural landscape.
“Frankie’s sold-out concerts at Chastain Amphitheater created memories for countless Atlantans and visitors from across the region,” Dickens shared. “His music was truly the soundtrack to many of our lives, and my thoughts are with his family, all who loved him, and all who were impacted by his gifts.”
The legendary “Before I Let Go” singer and leader of the soul band Maze died on Tuesday at 77. Just weeks after completing his farewell tour with Maze, Beverly’s family announced his passing in a heartfelt statement on the official Frankie Beverly and Maze Facebook page. “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,” the statement reads.
A Legacy Celebrated and Cherished
Mayor Andre Dickens reminisced about the honor of presenting Frankie Beverly with the city’s highest accolade, the Phoenix Award, recognizing his invaluable contributions to the music and entertainment industry.
This sentiment of celebration and remembrance extended across the community, as it was just earlier this year that Philadelphia renamed the street where Beverly grew up in his honor. In July, the nation’s largest annual celebration of Black culture, the Essence Festival, paid tribute to Frankie Beverly & Maze, nodding to the soul band’s legacy of closing the festival’s first 15 years.
Maze Continues the Journey
While fans are grieving Beverly’s loss, his family has assured them that the band, now known as Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly, will continue with Tony Lindsay stepping in as lead vocalist. “Love one another as he would want that for us all,” Beverly’s family urged in their statement.
In these challenging times, the Beverly family has called for privacy and understanding as they navigate their grief. “This period for us is one of healing, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly known to the world as Frankie Beverly,” the statement continued.
A Community United in Grief and Celebration
The city of Atlanta stands united in mourning, but also in celebrating the life of someone who brought joy and soulful melodies into the lives of many. Beverly’s music, characterized by its powerful emotional resonance, was more than just a soundtrack; it was a source of comfort and joy.
As the city reflects on the profound influence of Beverly’s music, his legacy continues to resonate in the hearts of his fans and the many lives he touched. Here, in Atlanta, we remember and honor the extraordinary life of Frankie Beverly, an irreplaceable icon whose music will forever be cherished.
