Roland Martin put some respect on a legend’s name this week. The veteran TV personality and Black media fixture sent out a birthday tribute to Roame, the percussionist and vocalist who helped build Maze featuring Frankie Beverly from the ground up.
Martin’s shoutout on X was short but hit heavy. He wrote: “Happy Birthday to my man Roame, an original member (Percussions/Vocals) of the iconic band, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Roame is the only remaining original member who recorded on every song in the Maze catalog. Roame is still sharing ‘Happy Feelings’ as Maze continues the legacy.”
That one detail Martin dropped? That’s the part that hits different.
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly has had many original members come and go. Roame is the only one with his fingerprints on every single track in the catalog. Every record. Every session. Every song. Bands lose members. They pivot lineups. They bring in replacements. Roame never had to be replaced. He stayed. That’s not just longevity. That’s devotion to the craft.
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly came together in the early 1970s and became one of the defining acts of soul and R&B. Their sound was smooth and groove-heavy. It became the soundtrack to cookouts, family reunions, and celebrations across Black America. Songs like “Happy Feelings,” “Before I Let Go,” and “Joy and Pain” aren’t just hits. They’re institutions.
Beyoncé covered “Before I Let Go” in 2019. That moment introduced the Maze catalog to a whole new generation. It showed the music wasn’t just nostalgic gold. It’s evergreen.
And through all of it, Roame has been in the mix.
He played percussion and added vocals across the full Maze run. That’s the kind of work that doesn’t always get the spotlight. Percussionists hold the pocket. They keep the feel right. They’re the heartbeat of the groove. In a band built entirely around that groove, that role is everything. Roame’s name is on every studio recording they ever made.
Martin’s post pulled in over 57 likes and 14 retweets on X. That’s a solid response for a birthday shoutout. Roame doesn’t usually make tabloid headlines. But the real value of the tribute isn’t the numbers. It’s Roland Martin. One of the most plugged-in voices in Black media. He used his platform to make sure somebody important doesn’t get slept on.
That move matters. Legacy R&B artists can get overlooked. The internet moves fast to the next big drop.
Maze is still out here carrying the flag. The band continues to perform and keep the catalog alive, with Roame still tied to that legacy run. Hashtags #TheButlers, #RawSoul, and #Maze tagged to Martin’s tribute signal how deep the community runs. The Maze faithful don’t play about their band.
Roame doesn’t have a massive solo profile or a viral moment attached to his name. What he has is something harder to fake. He’s got a complete, unbroken record of showing up for one of Black music’s most beloved groups. Every song. Every note. All the way through.
Happy birthday to a real one.
