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TMF The Music Forever looks forward to working with you very soon!
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Their Story
Roame, Jubu, Vance, Bear, Calvin, Daniel are the same Band of Brothers that toured and recorded as the Iconic R&B Band, Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly for the last two decades and beyond. The addition of Lead Vocalist, Chris Walker has completed the band's musical DNA. Excellence, musicianship and stage presence define what fans of Maze have come to expect. And now, these seven great artists have come together to bring the world a fresh new
Soul/R&B Experience. TMF, The Music Forever.
TMF - 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
Roame
Congas & Vocals
John "Jubu" Smith
Guitars & Vocals
Vance Taylor
Piano, Keyboards & Vocals
Bear Williams
Bass & Vocals
Roame is the last remaining original band member of the influential Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly and one of the founders of TMF. It was Roame that created the name “Maze” during the early days of the band. The group were playing in a nightclub in San Francisco when totally by chance, none other than the Legendary Singer/Songwriter Marvin Gaye was in attendance. Marvin absolutely loved the band, but hated their name at that time which was “Raw Soul”. Gaye quickly snapped the group up and took them on the road as his back up band. He also introduced them to Larkin Arnold at Capitol Records. Arnold signed them to their first major recording contract. Under the gun to change the band name as quickly as possible before the first album was released, Roame Lowry was the one that had the inspiration to call the band Maze. The name fit, and the rest as they say, is history. Since their very first release, "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly" Roame has been there for it all, through the thick and the thin, the laughter and the tears, and yes... the joy and the pain. The original band drove an beat up second-hand tour bus from Philadelphia to the Bay Area of California in 1972. That cross-country trip was perilous to say the least and will be the subject of a future biopic inspired by Roame's vivid memories of those days and beyond.
“Jubu” has worked as a valued sideman guitarist and singer for many years. He cut his teeth as a harmony vocalist in his father’s Oakland-based Gospel Quartet before adding bass, then guitar, to his responsibilities in the group. At age 19, he began playing guitar for the Oakland R&B band Tony Toni Toné, whose front man, Raphael Saadiq, he’d known since both were kids playing on the local quartet circuit. Jubu spent a decade with the “Tonies” before going on the road for a year and a half with Whitney Houston. For the past 20+ years, he’s been touring internationally as the lead guitarist with Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly And now with TMF, Jubu is no longer a sideman, but a principle artist and business owner. His musical credits also include countless recording sessions with the likes of Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton, George Duke and George Benson. Jubu moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta with his wife and three children to establish himself as the front man of his own soul-blues band, Legally Blynd, a sextet that includes his brother Eric “Pik Funk” Smith (Rihanna’s bassist for the past eight years) and other group members who work as sidemen for Stevie Wonder and Raphael Saadiq. He’s cut way back on doing recording sessions, but he recently lent his considerable talents to projects for Eric Benet, and K. Michelle.
Vance Taylor, revered as “Maestro”, is a producer, singer, songwriter and keyboardist based in Atlanta with a music career that spans decades. He is one of the seven founding members of TMF and joined Maze featuring Frankie Beverly in May of 2003. Vance landed his first professional gig at the age of 22, touring with Grammy-Award-winning recording artist Peabo Bryson. During this stint, he played keys and sang background for legendary songstress Roberta Flack in Australia for her one-month tour. In 1988 Vance served as musical director for the Earth, Wind & Fire “Touch the World” tour in the U.S. as well as in Japan where he appeared on Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Live in Japan” DVD. Vance played and recorded with George Howard on several CDs over the course of three years, and co-wrote with George on the CD “When Summer Comes.”
In the early 90’s, Vance served as musical director for two tours with Grammy-Award-winning artist Toni Braxton. His musical career includes performing on several projects with artists like Aretha Franklin, CeCe Winans, BeBe Winans, Deborah Cox, Kenny Lattimore, Chante Moore, Will Downing, Elton John and more. Vance’s signature sound and masterful technique keep him a highly sought-after musician.
In 1978, Bear cut his musical teeth on the road as the bass player for Mavis Staples & The Staple Singers and in the recording studios of Chicago, Illinois where he grew up. The youngest of four siblings, Bear’s very first recording sessions came via his High School Band Director, George “Tan” Hunter. Those sessions ended up being classic recordings by Gene “Duke of Earl” Chandler, Jerry Butler, and Dame Shirley Bassey. As Bass Player and Musical Director for Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly Bear has enjoyed a 20 year run with the Iconic Soul Band from the streets of Philadelphia, PA. Bear is excited to be carrying on the rich legacy of Maze while taking the music to a whole other level within TMF. Bear has both recorded and toured with musical Icons: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, Steve Perry of Journey, Babyface, Whitney Houston, George Duke, Alanis Morrisette, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Bobby Caldwell, James Ingram, Joe Cocker, Al Jarreau, and many more. In 2017, Bear formed The Bear Williams Band which is a Blues Roots Project. www.BearWilliamsMusic.com. Since its founding, Bear releases all his music on his indie label, GVR Records distributed via Razors Edge/INGrooves/Universal Music.
Calvin Napper
Drums & Percussion
As a toddler, Calvin used to beat on pots and pans with a confident rhythm, a playful foreshadowing of his chosen profession. At age five, he received his first drum set. When he was twelve, he recorded an album with the Napper Singers, a gospel group comprised of his mother and aunts. He began touring with them while still in his teens. Performing in the jazz band and local jazz groups dominated his high school years. A resident of Winston-Salem, NC, Calvin counts his years on the road as his greatest professional achievement and responsible for instilling in him both discipline and endurance. Calvin has performed and recorded with a great variety of artists covering a wide range of musical styles such as John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers, Lejeune Thompson, Hezekiah Walker, Rodney Bryant, Bishop T.D. Jakes Potter’s House Mass Choir, The Philadelphia Mass Choir, CeCe Winans, Stephanie Mills, Patti La Belle, Mike Phillips, Brian Simpson, Michael Manson, David Dyson, Lonnie Liston Smith, and many more. Calvin is also a Grammy winning songwriter and producer who has three CD projects to his credit – Good Vibes (2015), Sticks Of Praise (1999) and Soul Rhythms (2005). He has two DVD projects as well – Diligent Hands (2004) and Rhythmic Inspiration (2007). Calvin has been the heartbeat of the Legendary R&B soul band Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly since September of 2010. Calvin’s GRAMMY Award came in 2005 for his participation as a musician on “Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs” by Donnie McClurkin.
Daniel Weatherspoon
Organ & Keyboards
Daniel, or “Spoon” as he is affectionately known, is the newest member of Maze and now, TMF. Based in the Washington, D.C. area, Daniel Weatherspoon is a Grammy, Dove, ASCAP and Stellar Award winning producer, who’s client roster includes some of the world’s biggest artist: Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Paula Abdul, BeBe Winans, Cece Winans, KEM, Take 6, The Clark Sisters, The Winans…. (just to name a few).
Daniel is also a highly-respected jazz recording artist. His debut album “The Langley Park Project” debuted at #1 on both Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Album Chart and iTunes Jazz Album Chart. The follow-up album “Journey” featured PJ Morton, Leon Timbo. Mark Lettieri and the hit single “Lights Out”, which reached top 25 at jazz radio.
Chris Walker
Lead Vocals
Born and raised in Houston Texas,
Chris Walker began singing before he began speaking. He got his start in the church as a member of his family gospel group, The Walker Brothers, and started playing bass guitar at 8 years old. He plays the bass upside down like one of his early heroes; Jimi Hendrix did on the guitar. His musicianship garnered him a position as the Musical Director for R&B songstress Regina Belle as well as touring with Ornette Coleman. For two years, Chris juggled between the two artists. With his desire to sing more, he chose to stay with Ms. Belle, which ultimately led to a successful solo debut project on Pendulum Records. Chris Walker’s first commercial release entitled, First Time produced two top five singles; “Giving You All My Love” and “Take Time,” which crossed over to become top 30 on the pop charts. His second release entitled Sincerely Yours, included the classic song, “How Do You Heal A Broken Heart,” written by Chris and Carole Bayer Sager. It has received over 60 million views on YouTube. His former teacher, Gil Goldstein brought to fruition a longtime dream of Walker’s to work with 7-time Grammy Award winner Al Jarreau. Chris worked with Al as his Musical Director, bassist and co-vocalist until Jarreau’s passing in 2017. Chris has been recently touring as George Benson's bass player and he has now joined forces with TMF as their Lead Singer.