R&B icon Frankie Beverly performs for Houston one last time

Ladies and gentlemen – Frankie Beverly has left the building.

Alongside his band Maze, the R&B legend gave Houston a night to remember April 13 during his “I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour” at the Toyota Center. A capacity crowd, all dressed in traditional Frankie Beverly-style white clothing, saw the 77-year-old perform for the last time. Beverly announced last fall that he was retiring from stage life after a 50-year career, and this would be his final tour before handing the mic off to fellow vocalist Tony Lindsay.

The iconic Beverly and his seven-bandmates jammed on stage for more than an hour as he still displayed his distinctive smooth voice and captivating stage presence.

Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee also honored Beverly with a special presentation after the band performed two of their classics, “Joy and Pain” and “Before I Let Go.” If you are a fan of rapper Rob Base and his 1989 anthem, “Joy and Pain,” then you know exactly know what we are talking about.

Speaking of Houston, the city’s own Beyoncé covered Beverly’s “Before I Let Go” for her 2019 film, “Homecoming,” as well as adding the song to her live album.

“Southern Girl,” “Back in Stride,” “Can’t Let Go” and our personal favorite from Beverly and Maze, “Happy Feelin’s,” were all sung word-for-word by the crowd.

In a fusion of legendary talents, Grammy Hall of Fame inductees, The O’Jays, which included original members Eddie Levert, who is still performing at the young age of 82, and Walter Williams with Eric Grant, who joined the band in 1995, were also on this tour. The O’Jays have a catalog of timeless hits, but it was amazing to see them perform live “Back Stabbers,” “I Love Music,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “For the Love of Money” and “Love Train.”

If that wasn’t enough, the tour also featured El DeBarge, who seny the crowd in a frenzy with his 1982 hit, “I Like It,” as well as a surprise appearance by LeVelle.

Beverly’s final jaunt across the country is produced by the Black Promoters Collective (BPC), a coalition representing six of the nation’s top independent concert promotion and event production companies. The BPC has produced several of the largest urban tours over the past two years, Maxwell, New Edition, Keyshia Cole and Mary J. Blige. 

Chad Cooper is the Entertainment Editor. Contact cooper@theexaminer.com