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.”