Frankie Beverly, the singer-songwriter best known for his work with the R&B, soul and funk band Maze, has died. His family broke the news this morning, revealing that the baritone singer passed away yesterday (September 10). A cause of death has not been released. Frankie Beverly was 77 years old.

“Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience,” Beverly’s family wrote. “During this time, as we deal with feelings of grief, reflection and remembrance, we kindly ask for privacy and understanding so that we may have the space to grieve in our own way. This is a time of healing, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly, known worldwide as Frankie Beverly.”

The family continued: “He lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends. Love each other as he would have us all.”

Frankie Beverly’s music on Maze has long served as an inspiration for artists drawn to his voice. Hits like “Back in Stride,” “Can’t Get Over You,” and “Golden Time of Day” earned Maze a legion of fans, while other notable singles showcased Beverly’s smooth vocals. The famous fan favorite “Before I Let Go” was covered by Beyoncé on her live album Homecoming.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1946, Howard Stanley Beverly was first drawn to music as a schoolboy in church. He sang gospel music in the pews and formed an a cappella doo-wop group with friends at school. Beverly recorded his first official songs in 1963, at the age of 17, as part of the Butlers. Four years later, their soul standard “That’s What You Wanted” caught the eye of producer Kenny Gamble, who picked the group up and helped release more Butlers material. The Butlers moved to California so their sound could find a more suitable audience, and called themselves Raw Soul.

In 1971, Marvin Gaye heard about Raw Soul and invited them to open his tour. Gaye suggested they change their name once again, this time to Frankie Beverly and Maze. In 1976, Maze signed with Capitol Records and released their debut album, Maze with Frankie Beverlythe following year. Maze released eight more studio albums, including R&B chart-toppers Can’t stop the lovein 1985, and Silky soulin 1989. The band’s last studio album was released in 1993 Back to basics.