Say it ain’t so. After 54 years, nine gold albums and a string of hits including “Before I Let Go” — which Beyoncé lovingly covered on her live album Homecoming — Maze frontman Frankie Beverly is announcing his farewell tour. The I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour kicks off in Atlanta at the State Farm Arena on March 22 and wraps in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum on May 12.
An afterparty following the Atlanta concert is currently being planned with details forthcoming. Once the tour ends, Beverly will travel to Philadelphia for a street renaming ceremony in the city where he and his Maze band — originally called Raw Soul — began forging their musical legacy in 1970.
In an exclusive comment to Billboard, Beverly says, “I want to share with my lifelong fans and associates that I’ll be going out on the road one last time, then retire. Thank you so much for the support given to me for over 50 years as I pass on the lead vocalist torch to Tony Lindsay. The band will continue on as Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly. It’s been a great ride through the decades. Let the music of my legacy continue.”
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Beverly’s final tour trek is being produced by the Black Promoters Collective (BPC). “Since the ‘70s, the legendary Frankie Beverly has blessed us with timeless hits such as ‘Happy Feelings,’ ‘Golden Time of Day,’ ‘Joy and Pain’ and the seminal party starter ‘Before I Let Go,’” BPC CEO Gary Guidry tells Billboard.
“His music has contributed to the soundtrack of our lives by enriching our experiences with his soulful melodies. We are honored to join forces with him on his farewell tour.”
Among Beverly and Maze’s early mentors was Marvin Gaye. After relocating to San Francisco and meeting Gaye in 1971, the group began touring as the R&B/pop legend’s opening act. In fact, it was Gaye who suggested that Raw Soul change its name to Maze. Maze went on to record for Capitol and later Warner Bros., releasing a series of hit albums and singles between 1977 and 1993.
Pre-sales for Frankie Beverly & Maze’s I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour begin Feb. 15 with sales to the general public starting Feb. 16. Get your tickets info here. See the full tour itinerary below:
- March 22 — State Farm Arena — Atlanta, Ga.
- April 6 – Mobile County Fairgrounds — Mobile, Ala.
- April 13 – Toyota Arena — Houston, Texas
- April 27 – United Center — Chicago, Ill.
- May 12 – Kia Forum — Los Angeles, Calif.
- July 6 — Dell Music Center — Philadelphia, Pa.
