Awards VS. Rewards: Frankie Beverly’s Take On Going “Unnoticed” By Music Industry l by Sharcie J.

You would have thought a Grammy award winning artist had just stepped on stage with another artist of parallel acclaim. But it wasn’t. It was Frankie Beverly and Maze in Nashville. Eager fans ranging from age 21 to 75 were all overjoyed when the band in white took stage after super energetic opening performances by Angela Winbush and Kem. The packed crowd knew all the lyrics in all the songs. Everyone was smiling, dancing and obviously excited to be present in the moment. One poor soul even had to be escorted out by security after he refused to stop tossing crumpled dollar bills at Frankie’s feet. But we understood. He was grateful for the soul-feeding music that has appealed to our creative sensibilities from infant-hood.

In either good, mature wisdom or supernatural clairvoyance, Beverly answered the unspoken question: Why hasn’t Maze received the overdue awards that are so-well deserved? In a joyful proclamation, Frankie explained “I don’t need their awards.” He went on to say he doesn’t think he’d accept them at this point anyway. There is without question a certain confidence that comes with being able to turn down highly-coveted music industry awards. And there is a knowledge that rewards are perhaps more gratifying than awards. There is a difference. Frankie said his fans knowing and feeling his lyrics are award enough for him. His audiences packing the house and catching his sweaty towels are also the real rewards.

But it’s still peculiar that in more than 30 years in the music industry, at least eight gold albums, and 30 hit singles, Frankie Beverly and Maze have not gotten industry proof of the group’s genius. But one thing is for sure, Maze will always need big opening acts.