“Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience. During this time of grief, reflection, and remembrance, we kindly ask for privacy and understanding so we may have the space to grieve in our own way,” the family wrote in an online message. “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’s statement went on to say that Beverly “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.”

Beverly was born in Philadelphia and attended Germantown High School as a child.

According to NBC10’s news gathering partner the Philadelphia Tribune, his music career began when he formed the Blenders, later recording a number of songs with the Butlers.

“After attracting the attention of legendary songwriter and producer Kenny Gamble, the group released several songs under the Philadelphia-based record label Cameo Parkway,” Tribune correspondent OJ Spivey wrote of Beverly’s early years, after the musician was recently honored by having the 6000 block of Norwood Street in Germantown named after him.

After moving to the West Coast, Beverly’s group changed their name to Raw Soul and later to Maze. With them, Beverly released nine gold albums.

Earlier this year, after 50 years of performing and touring, Beverly performed a farewell performance at the Dell Music Center in North Philadelphia.

His family has not released details about Beverly’s cause of death.