Frankie Beverly and Jimmy Gilmer RIP

Music deaths are coming through thick and fast at the moment with two more being brought to my attention today. Frankie Beverly, who has died aged 77, was a big name in the soul and funk world and his band Maze had a huge following. Born in Philadelphia he joined a doowop group before forming a band called the Butlers (later Frankie Beverly and the Butlers), who recorded several singles from 1963 onwards, including 'If That's What You Want' in 1967, which bcame a Northern Soul favourite. The band caught the attention of Kenny Gamble and changed their name to Raw Soul, and subsequently to Maze when they met up with Marvin Gaye's sister in law. They became well known on the London funk scene in the early eighties and had a minor hit with 'Joy and Pain'. I saw them at the New Orleans Jazzfest last year but, good though they were musically, I wasn't over impressed. I wrote: 'I waited for quite a while for Maze featuring Frankie Beverly along with a big crowd which was 99 per cent African American but was a bit disappointed when they did come on. Frankie's vocals were muffled and he barely acknowledged the audience facing the band instead. But the crowd seemed happy enough and were singing along.'

Another death, at the age of 83, is that of Jimmy Gilmer, who had a big h1t in 1963 with 'Sugar Shack' along with the Fireballs, a group which was formed in the late fifties and recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Their early hits included 'Torquay', 'Bulldog' and 'Quite A Party'. Jimmy wasn't an original member but, with his name added to that of the Fireballs, he followed up 'Sugar Shack' with 'Daisy Petal Pickin', which was a hit, and other singles including 'Ain't Gonna Tell Nobody' and 'Look At Me'. Th Fireballs backed several other artists during the sixties, recording with Norman Petty, but were probably best known for adding backing tracks to early home demo recordings by Buddy Holly which became hits. in 1967 the Fireballs had a further hit with 'Bottle of Wine. Jimmy was still a member of the group but didn't feature in the band's name. The group disbanded in 1969.