Maze (band)
Maze | |
|---|---|
Warner Bros. | |
| Members | Frankie Beverly Carl Wheeler Ordeen Mays Jr. Vernon Black Larry Wims Kevin Lloyd Kevin Stancil Marlon Curry |
| Past members | McKinley "Bug" Williams (deceased) Sam Porter (deceased) Robin Duhe Wuane Thomas Joe Provost Ahaguna Sun Ron Smith Billy Johnson Philip Woo Wayne "Ziggy" Linsey Vernon "Ice" Black William Bryant George Murrille Michael White Anthony Beverly Chris Johnson Road Manager: Calvin "VJ" Jones Stage Manager: Michael Burton Light Director: Michael Lowry Roame Lowry Larry Kimpel a.k.a. Bear Williams Vance Taylor Jubu Smith Calvin Napper |
Maze, also known as Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly and Frankie Beverly & Maze, is an American soul band founded by Frankie Beverly in Philadelphia in 1970.[1] Under its original name Raw Soul, the band relocated to San Francisco and was introduced to Marvin Gaye. Gaye took the group on the road with him as one of his opening acts, and in 1976, he suggested that they change their name from Raw Soul.[1]
Maze released nine
Career
Maze signed a
Their next
The band released their next album, Can't Stop the Love in March 1985,
In 1989, they signed with Warner Bros. and released the hit album Silky Soul, plus Back to Basics in 1993,
In 2009, a tribute to the hits of Maze was released. Called Silky Soul Music: An All Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, it included modern stars performing Maze's biggest hits with Maze acting as the backing band.[5]
In recent years, it has become tradition for the audience to honor the group by dressing in all white attire, as the group has often worn while performing.
On September 2, 2011, their percussionist and background singer, McKinley "Bug" Williams, died of an apparent heart attack.[8][9]
On May 9, 2023, it was reported that long-time Maze band members along with original member Roame left and started their own group, "The Music Forever" (TMF): Formerly of Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly. Beverly, is still performing with new Maze band members.[10]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications
|
Record label | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [11] |
US R&B [11] |
CAN [12] |
UK
[7] | |||||||||||
| 1977 | Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
|
52 | 6 | — | — | Capitol | ||||||||
| 1978 | Golden Time of Day | 27 | 9 | 83 | — |
| ||||||||
| 1979 | Inspiration | 33 | 5 | 54 | — |
| ||||||||
| 1980 | Joy and Pain | 31 | 5 | — | — |
| ||||||||
| 1983 | We Are One | 25 | 5 | — | 38 | |||||||||
| 1985 | Can't Stop the Love | 45 | 1 | — | 41 |
| ||||||||
| 1989 | Silky Soul | 37 | 1 | — | 43 |
|
Warner Bros.
| |||||||
| 1993 | Back to Basics | 37 | 3 | — | — |
| ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Live albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications
|
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [11] |
US R&B [11] |
UK
[7] | ||||
| 1981 | Live in New Orleans | 34 | 3 | — |
|
Capitol |
| 1986 | Live in Los Angeles | 92 | 12 | 70 | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Peaks | Certifications
|
Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [11] | |||||
| 1988 | Southern Girl | — | Capitol | ||
| 1989 | The Greatest Hits of Maze...Lifelines, Vol. 1 | 57 | |||
| 1996 | Anthology | 57 |
|
The Right Stuff | |
| 1998 | Greatest Slow Jams | — | |||
| 2002 | Classic Masters | — | Capitol | ||
| 2004 | Greatest Hits | 79 | The Right Stuff | ||
| 2011 | Greatest Hits | — | Capitol | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [11] |
US R&B [11] |
NL [13] |
UK
[7] | |||||||||||
| 1977 | "While I'm Alone" | 89 | 21 | — | — | Maze featuring Frankie Beverly | ||||||||
| "Lady of Magic" | 108 | 13 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1978 | "Workin' Together" | — | 9 | — | — | Golden Time of Day | ||||||||
| "Golden Time of Day" (A-side) | — | 39 | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Travelin' Man" (B-side) | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| "I Wish You Well" | — | 61 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1979 | "Feel That You're Feelin'" | 67 | 7 | — | — | Inspiration | ||||||||
| "Timin'" | — | 55 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1980 | "Southern Girl" | — | 9 | — | — | Joy and Pain | ||||||||
| "The Look in Your Eyes" | — | 29 | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Joy and Pain" | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1981 | "Running Away" | — | 7 | — | — | Live in New Orleans | ||||||||
| "Before I Let Go" | — | 13 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1982 | "We Need Love to Live" | — | 29 | — | — | |||||||||
| 1983 | "Love Is the Key" | 80 | 5 | — | 88 | We Are One | ||||||||
| "Never Let You Down" | — | 26 | — | — | ||||||||||
| "We Are One" | — | 47 | — | 86 | ||||||||||
| "I Wanna Thank You" | — | 59 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1985 | "Back in Stride" | 88 | 1 | — | 79 | Can't Stop the Love | ||||||||
| "Too Many Games" | 103 | 5 | — | 36 | ||||||||||
| "I Want to Feel I'm Wanted" | — | 28 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1986 | "I Wanna Be with You" | — | 12 | — | 55 | Live in Los Angeles | ||||||||
| "When You Love Someone" | — | 38 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1989 | "Joy and Pain" (re-release) | — | — | — | 57 | Joy and Pain | ||||||||
| "Can't Get Over You" | — | 1 | — | 89 | Silky Soul | |||||||||
| "Silky Soul" | — | 4 | 76 | — | ||||||||||
| 1990 | "Love's on the Run" | — | 13 | — | — | |||||||||
| "Songs of Love" | — | 37 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1993 | "Laid Back Girl" | — | 15 | — | — | Back to Basics | ||||||||
| "The Morning After" | 115 | 19 | — | — | ||||||||||
| 1994 | "What Goes Up" | — | 32 | — | — | |||||||||
| 2001 | "Teach Each Other" | — | 123 | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Videos
- Live in New Orleans (1981)
- Live in Los Angeles (1986)
- Live in London (1994)
References
- ^ a b c Henderson, Alex. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "American certifications – Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ "Maze featuring Frankie Beverly Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ a b Rizik, Chris (May 5, 2007). "Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Biography". Soul Tracks. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 404. CN 5585.
- ^ a b c d "UK Charts > Maze featuring Frankie Beverly". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ Morrison, John F. (September 9, 2011). "McKinley 'Bug' Williams, toured with R&B group". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
McKinley died last Friday of an apparent heart attack.
- ^ "McKinley Williams Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ "REPORT: Frankie Beverly and Original Members of MAZE Split, Touring Separately This Summer". Our Black Union. May 9, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "US Charts > Maze featuring Frankie Beverly". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
- ^ "CAN Charts > Maze featuring Frankie Beverly". RPM. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ "NL Charts > Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly". Dutch Charts. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Maze at AllMusic
| International | |
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| Artists | |
