Frankie Beverly bids adieu to The Lou

St. Louis’ “aunts and uncles” showed out Saturday night June 22 decked out in their all-white for their final goodbye to living legend and icon Frankie Beverly and Maze. Even though the concert was held at the Enterprise Center it felt like one big backyard party filled with family and friends. There was so much love and honor for music trailblazers like the Whispers and the O’Jays. The concert was a show of epic proportions. 

Kicking off the R&B/ Soul train were the iconic California R&B group The Whispers–they came strutting on stage in matching burgundy suits with shoes to match and they took the crowd by storm with their chart-topping single ‘And The Beat Goes On’.

Not one person who could stand up was sitting. Concertgoers were immediately on their feet dancing and snapping their fingers. On the floor level, some people were even dancing in the aisles. The Whispers have been performing for over three decades and still got it.

Each member showed perfection in every turn, step out, and sway. The R&B group had their routine to a ‘T’.  Singing six of their hits like ‘Get You In The Mood’ which caused some couples to slow dance in the aisles.  Then they performed Rocksteady. People were doing the music group’s iconic dance right along with them. At the end of their set like true gentlemen, they handed out a couple dozen red roses to the ladies in the stands. 

Eddie Levert was on his game, before the O’Jays could step on stage people were cheering and screaming. Lights flashing throughout the venue was the perfect setup, they opened up with  ‘Give The People What They Want’. The audience was singing in unison with the soulful group. They were dancing their old-school routine not missing a beat. But after the upbeat song lead singer Eddie Levert told the crowd.

“I’m gone, sit my ass down” and sat down on his chair. Fans laughed at his joke knowing he truly meant he was going to sit down. But they didn’t care that the fact that they were seeing the O’Jays perform was good enough for them.  He sang from that chair most of their set, but there were times when he was really feeling the music and would give the adoring fans a one-two step.

The group slowed it down a bit, calling this part of their set the ‘baby-making music’ portion, and did a mash-up of ‘Sunshine’, ‘Brandy, I Really Miss You’, ‘Let Me Make Love To You’, and ‘Forever Mine’. One of the most amazing effects of music is it brings people from all walks of life together– the O’Jays performed ‘Love Train’ and concertgoers instantly held hands with the person beside them. For those few minutes, everyone was in harmony with one another. Race, social economic status, or any other identifier didn’t matter. For those moments everyone was family. 

Headliner Frankie Beverly and Maze kept the audience wanting more, to describe his band in two words– divine talent. From the drums to the bass player, even the guy who played the congo drums and tambourine was on point. His final tour Frankie Beverly did not disappoint, his all-white signature picnic look reminded the crowd of those days of family reunions and block parties.

His humble spirit graced the stage throughout his performance. He performed all of his hits–and smiled from ear to ear.  He was filled with so much love when the audience sang with him. ‘We Are One’, ‘Golden Time of Day’, ‘Happy Feelings’, ‘Joy&Pain’, ‘Before I Let You Go’–the entire set most of the crowd was standing and no one wanted to sit. Dancing with him and his band was a part of the experience.

Performing his last song ‘Thank You’ some people were in tears because they knew this was the last time they would see this iconic Frankie Beverly and Maze perform again. The man who has been a part of our families for over three decades.

He was at every Bar-B-Que, wedding, and graduation party. His music celebrates life and love. The tours are over, but his music and spirit will forever be in our hearts, at our family get-togethers, crossing over all generations.  Well done and thank you Frankie Beverly and Maze.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American