Maze & Frankie Beverly - While I'm Alone (1977)

The band can be considered as the project formerly known as The Butlers, and later Raw Soul, with member Frankie Beverly being songwriter, record producer, arranger, singer, keyboardist and guitarist. The Philadelphia born Beverly started the group as Raw Soul in 1970. They recorded a couple of singles on the small Gregar label, but without any major success. With a few personnel changes, a relocation from Philadelphia to the San Francisco Bay Area in California in 1971, and an introduction to Marvin Gaye, the group became an immediate success. Gaye took the group on the road with him as one of his opening acts, and in 1976, he suggested that they changed their name from Raw Soul to Maze. 

Signed to a recording contract with Capitol Records in 1976, Maze would release their début album, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly in 1977. From that album Maze would earn a devoted fan base with classic tracks Happy Feelin's, While I'm Alone, and Lady of Magic, ultimately giving them their first gold record. They also had success with the albums Golden Time of Day (1978), Inspiration (1979) and Joy and Pain (1980). Their next recording was Live in New Orleans, 3/4 of which was recorded at the Saenger Theatre, on November 14-15, 1980. Three of those songs were released onto the US R&B chart, including Running Away, Before I Let Go, and We Need Love To Live. By that time, the band had both a reputation in America and also enjoyed a following in the United Kingdom with promotional support from the DJ Robbie Vincent. In May 1985, Maze sold out eight nights at the Hammersmith Odeon. The group released their next album, Can't Stop the Love in March 1985, which featured the group's first number one R&B hit Back In Stride. The Top 5 follow-up, Too Many Games was also featured on this album. The latter single also became the band's biggest hit in the UK, where it peaked at no.36 on the charts.

In 1989, they signed with Warner Bros. and released the hit album Silky Soul and Back to Basics in 1993, and released the live DVD recording at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1994. The two albums also attained gold disc status. They had another number one R&B success with Can't Get Over You. 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. On September 2, 2011, their percussionist and background singer, McKinley "Bug" Williams, died of an apparent heart attack at a hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Maze continues to tour around the United States as well as Europe to this day. Every year they are the closing act for the Essence Music Festival.

- Mr Fabulous