Social media platforms are buzzing with a call to honor Frankie Beverly’s life on Friday, September 20th. Frankie Beverly, the lead singer and founder of the band Maze, passed away on September 10, 2024, at the age of 77. Born Howard Stanley Beverly on December 6, 1946, in Philadelphia, Beverly had recently performed his farewell show in Atlanta before his passing.
In tribute to Beverly, fans are encouraged to celebrate his legacy by wearing all white on September 20th, streaming Maze’s music throughout the day, and using the hashtag #whiteoutforfrankie. This social media initiative aims to honor Beverly’s memory and the joy he brought to so many fans.
Curious about who started this movement I did a little digging. I discovered the campaign was initiated by Brent Barnett, a DJ and entrepreneur from Louisville, Kentucky, known as DJ B-ROC. I had the chance to connect with DJ B-ROC through Facebook to learn more about the man behind it all.
Barnett organized the National White Out Day For Frankie Beverly (#whiteoutforfrankie) to pay tribute to Frankie Beverly and to unite people for a moment of collective celebration and remembrance. According to DJ B-ROC, Beverly’s music has been a significant part of the lives and celebrations of many Black individuals, making this tribute deeply meaningful.
DJ B-ROC expressed that the goal of the event is to give back some of the joy that Beverly brought to others. He was initially surprised by the overwhelming response, with the original post reaching 600,000 views and being shared over 25,000 times at the time of this interview. The campaign has even garnered attention from Roland Martin and other celebrities.
In DJ B-ROC’s own words: “This is NOT about me at all; it’s about celebrating Frankie Beverly and giving him the flowers he deserved while he was living.”
Frankie’s fans and music lovers are encouraged to tag friends and family on social media and to join in the celebration of Beverly’s positive impact on the music community.
You can visit DJ B_ROC on Facebook @soulminsiter1987 at www.facebook.com/soulminister1987.
*Note: This event is not affiliated with Frankie Beverly’s estate.