Frankie Beverly, the iconic singer known for the song “Before I Let Go” and founder of the group Maze, died on September 10. He was 77.

The Philadelphia-born singer’s death was confirmed in a statement his family shared on Instagram on Sept. 11.

“Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience,” the letter opened. “During this time, as we navigate feelings of grief, reflection, and remembrance, we kindly ask for privacy and understanding so that we may have the space to grieve in our own way.”

The family continued, “This time is a time of healing for us, and your respect for our need for solitude is appreciated as we honor the memory of our beloved Howard Stanley Beverly, known to the world as Frankie Beverly.”

“He lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends,” the statement read. “Love each other as he would have us all.”

Beverly’s cause of death is currently unknown. A spokesperson for the singer did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Beverly was born on December 6, 1946 and grew up singing gospel music. She formed a group called the Blenders while in high school, according to The Philadelphia TribuneThe venture did not last long, however, as in 1963 he founded another group: the Butlers.

The Butlers moved to the Bay Area in California in 1971 and changed their name to Raw Soul, prompting fellow musician and tourmate Marvin Gaye to suggest they change again, the outlet reported. The group then became known as Maze.

In 1977 the group released its first album, Maze with Frankie Beverlywhich became their first of nine Gold-certified full-length releases. The group scored two No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart During Their Career: 1985’s Can’t stop the love and 1989’s Silky soul.

Maze also scored nine top 10 singles on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop songs reached the charts throughout their existence, including two No. 1 hits: 1985’s “Back in Stride” and 1989’s “Can’t Get Over You.”

The group’s major hit is “Before I Let Go” from the 1981 album Direct from New Orleans. The song reached number 13 on the charts after its initial release and has since become a staple at weddings and other gatherings, especially within black culture.

“It was about a relationship that I was in. It was just going up and down, and at the end I wrote a song because I felt like I had to get out of it,” Beverly said Billboard of the song in 2019. “I was so crazy about the girl, but it just wasn’t working. I was like, ‘What am I gonna do?’ and that thought inspired the song. I was gonna try to do all these things ‘before I let go.'”

“Before I Let Go” got a new life in 2019 thanks to Beyoncé’s cover of the song for Homecoming: The Live Album. Beverly told Billboard the cover was “definitely a blessing.”

“Other people have done my songs, but the way she did it was in a league of her own. I’m hearing from people I haven’t heard from in years. She did something that has affected my life,” he said at the time. “I haven’t spoken to a publication like yours in a while. So it’s changed things for me.”

Beverly continued to tour until shortly before his death, concluding a series of concerts with Maze (with a new line-up) in July.

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In May, he was honored with a ceremonial renaming of the block where his childhood home is located in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood to “Frankie Beverly Way,” according to The Philadelphia Tribune.

“I want to thank you all for being a part of this journey,” Beverly said at an event honoring the occasion, according to the outlet. “Today is not a closing chapter, but a new beginning. There is more to come.”