Philadelphia Walk Of Fame

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly

What a day it was in Philadelphia for Frankie Beverly, the smooth, Philadelphia-born soul and R&B singer. At 12:00 noon, Frankie and the group he's fronted for three decades, Maze, was honored as they received the 107th plaque on the Philadelphia Walk of Fame. Loyal fans were asked to come out and cheer as a replica of the bronze plaque was unveiled at a ceremony in front of the Merriam Theater on Broad Street, though the sidewalk installation will actually be a few steps south on the Avenue of the Arts.

My wife was on hand to see some of the festivities during her lunch hour. Some well-known people who were also present to salute our homeboy and his crew were fellow musicians The Three Degrees and Kim Sledge... hometown DJs Doug Henderson and Joe "Butterball" Tamburro... representatives from the Philadelphia Music Alliance... and other city dignitaries.

The second phase of Frankie Beverly & Maze's blowout is underway right now as he and the group are the headliner for a show at the Mann Music Center in Fairmont Park, with special guest Chaka Khan. In some other place, she would be the headliner... but here, Frankie and the gang's huge and loyal following placed them on top.

Speaking as someone who has followed the man, the group, and their music since junior high school (And, I mean all the way back to "While I'm Alone", the very first cut, by Frankie Beverly & Raw Soul. Remember them?), I can truthfully say that the honors they received today are long overdue.

Congratulations, Frankie... you were always a "class act" and you did Philly proud. Now, it's your turn to have the spotlight and receive a permanent place in our rich musical history. You should know that, through the years, you already had a permanent place in our hearts.

CBS3 Eyewitness News Video

Other Philly Walk of Famers...

Marian Anderson * Lee Andrews & The Hearts * Frankie Avalon * Pearl Bailey * Baker, Harris & Young * Samuel Barber * Eric Bazilian * Thom Bell * Jerry Blavat * Joseph Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys * Boyz II Men * Michael Brecker * Randy Brecker * David Bromberg * Stan Lee Broza * Joe Burke * Solomon Burke * Chubby Checker * Dick Clark * Stanley Clarke * John Coltrane * Linda Creed * Jim Croce * Danny & The Juniors * James Darren * Peter De Angelis The Delfonics * The Dixie Hummingbirds * Mike Douglas * The Dovells * Nelson Eddy Fabian Russell Faith * Eddie Fisher * Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts * Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff * Stan Getz * Dizzy Gillespie * Joe Grady & Ed Hurst * Gary Graffman * Buddy Greco * Bill Haley * Daryl Hall & John Oates * The Heath Brothers * Doug "Jocko" Henderson, Sr. * Natalie Hinderas * Phyllis Hyman * Rob Hyman * The Intruders * DJ Jazzy Jeff * Joan Jett * Philly Joe Jones * Kitty Kallen * Patti LaBelle * Eddie Lang * Mario Lanza * Hy Lit * Bernie Lowe * Jeanette MacDonald * Larry Magid * Kal Mann & Dave Appell & Robert Marcucci * Sid Mark * Al Martino * Pat Martino * Ed McMahon * Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes * Anna Moffo * Gerry Mulligan * Riccardo Muti * Peter Nero * Joe Niagara * Eugene Ormandy * Teddy Pendergrass * Vincent Persichetti * Molly Picon * Leon Redbone * Kal Rudman * Dr. Max Rudolf * Todd Rundgren * Bobby Rydell * Rudolf Serkin * Nina Simone * Bessie Smith * Jimmy Smith * William Smith * Phil Spector * Allen Spivak * Richard Sterban of The Oak Ridge Boys * Leopold Stokowski * The Stylistics * Joe "Butterball" Tamburro * Joseph Tarsia * Arthur Tracy * McCoy Tyner * Charlie Ventura * Clara Ward & The Ward Singers * Grover Washington, Jr. * Ethel Waters * Andre Watts * Marion Williams * Georgie Woods * Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. *