Paul Rochester

The music of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly is the soundtrack of warm dusks spent cruising local side streets, with the windows down and the speakers turned on high. Beverly’s voice conjures memories of late afternoons seated in a sunny corner of the extended family’s spacious backyard, eavesdropping on “grown-folks business” being discussed at the cooler while the aroma of an active grill fills the air. The group’s songs trigger ­muscle memory of doing the electric slide on freshly cut grass, forming Soul Train lines in the living room, and enjoying slow dances under the stars. So, it’s no surprise that the legendary performer is returning to the pinnacle of summer, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, for our 30th anniversary. He will be receiving his flowers as a legacy entertainer and, for one last time, commanding the very stage he helped build from its inception. Now, they will be honored on that same stage for all they’ve contributed to the culture.  Frankie Beverly covers our very special ESSENCE Festival of Culture 30th Anniversary subscribers cover!  Written by: Riveà Ruff Photography by Nolis Anderson