The Band

Carl “The Rev” Wheeler began his storied career at age eleven as a regular cast member of the local hit children’s show “Just Kidding,” where he sang and played keyboard until age sixteen. A founding member of the highly successful band Tony! Toni! Toné!, Carl co-wrote hit songs such as “Whatever U Want,” “Feels Good,” and “Anniversary,” just to name a few. Carl also toured with many bands, including twenty-five years with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly, and The Beverly Xperience as the musical director.

Carl is well versed in all music styles, from rock, soul, R&B, pop, gospel, and jazz. He has recorded, produced, and performed with several superstar acts including but not limited to Prince, Sheila E., Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, Walter and Edwin Hawkins, J. Spencer, Andraé Crouch, Aretha Franklin, and Lionel Richie, and performed at the White House for the Celebration of Gospel hosted by President and Mrs. Obama.

Within the industry, Carl has been recognized for his work, receiving many awards such as a Grammy, Grammy nominations, BET Lifetime Achievement Awards, and several ASCAP Awards. Carl’s strong passion for music has been the staple of his deeply rooted, distinct sound, and he continues to write, produce, record, and mix for various artists.

Tony Lindsay shared his amazing vocals for 25 years as the lead vocalist for the famed Santana. Tony has garnered 11 Grammy Awards, traveled on numerous world tours, and recorded on seven Santana CDs: Milagro (1992), Supernatural (1999), Shaman (2002), Ceremony (2003), Food for Thought (2004), Ultimate Santana (2007), and Multi-Dimensional Warrior (2008). In addition to many Grammy show performances, Tony’s time with Santana included a 2003 pre-game performance at Super Bowl XXXVII, where they were joined onstage by Beyoncé.

Tony Lindsay hails from Kingston, New York. In 1980, he made his way to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he currently resides. In the early years of Tony’s career, he formed the band Spangalang, which has opened for Curtis Mayfield, Tower of Power, Gerald Albright, Jr. Walker, and the Average White Band. Tony still performs with Spangalang, in addition to other bands he has helped form, including The Soul Soldiers, Black Magic, and the Ray Charles Project. Tony was one of four vocalists who traveled on the road tour version of the popular TV show “Dancing with the Stars” during its first three seasons, and he is currently a regular performer of “The National Anthem” for the Golden State Warriors (NBA), the Santa Cruz Warriors (NBA G League), the San Francisco 49ers, the San Francisco Giants, and the San Jose Sharks. In addition, Tony released a single, “All Is One,” which climbed to #1 on the Indie Soul Charts in 2020, and he finished 2020 with his holiday hit “Merry Christmas.”

Tony graced the stage with Frankie Beverly as Frankie gave Tony his blessing to become the new lead singer for Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly. Tony now sings lead for The Beverly Xperience.

Vernon “Ice” Black is an accomplished virtuoso guitarist and vocalist. Vernon spent most of the past 35 years touring, recording, and film tracking with music legends like Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, and Celine Dion. His work can be heard in films like “The Bodyguard,” “Licence to Kill,” and “Beverly Hills Cop II,” in advertising jingles for Jaguar, Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan, Mattel, and Levi’s, and in songs and sound effects for Sony PlayStation and EA Sports video games.

Vernon’s musical talents go beyond his guitar. In 1995 Vernon was the associate music director at the Jimi Hendrix Festival at Bumbershoot in Seattle, Washington, where he also opened the show with music legends including Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Noel Redding (bass) of The Experience, Jimi Hendrix’s original band.

In addition, Vernon is a producer, composer, and music director. Credits include the Spice Girls (music director), Regina Belle (composer), Philip Bailey (composer), Lenny Williams (composer, producer), his first solo record “Sneak Previews” (composer, producer; guest artists including Herbie Hancock, Steve Smith, Tom Coster, and Philip Bailey), and his latest release with the Rainforest Band (with Tony Saunders and Sylvester Burks).

Ronald Madison Lindsey, “Ronnie,” is a Washingtonian at heart and started playing the bass guitar at the influential age of 9. He was fluently playing in his church two months later. By the time he was 13, this musical miracle was producing and arranging local artists’ musical productions.

Ronnie’s professional contributions have been witnessed at the Kennedy Center performing with gospel icon Daryl Coley, Kirk Franklin, Dorothy Norwood, and Richard Smallwood. Ronnie has played with R&B greats like Patti LaBelle, Raheem DeVaughn, Dru Hill, Tank, and Musiq Soulchild. He could be seen playing all around the nation’s capital’s finest sound stages, like H2O on the Waterfront, or Los Angeles’ renowned B.B. King’s nightclub. He now graces the stage with his musical talents playing for The Beverly Xperience. Not dropping names, but it just so happens that Ronnie is Frankie Beverly’s cousin.

Born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Gary, IN, Larry Wims Jr. discovered his passion for music at just two years old. Honing his craft in church and embarking on a lifelong journey of rhythm and creativity, Larry is a versatile drummer and producer. Larry’s ability to seamlessly navigate genres like gospel, R&B, rock, blues, country, soul, reggae, hip-hop, and jazz has made him a sought-after musician in the industry.

Larry has graced the stage alongside legendary artists such as Frankie Beverly, Shirley Caesar, The Isley Brothers, Anthony Hamilton, Luke James, and many more. Whether crafting beats in the studio or performing electrifying live sets, Larry’s dynamic style and technical expertise leave an indelible impression.

When he’s not performing or producing, Larry shares his love for music as an instructor, inspiring the next generation of artists to find their voice and embrace the universal language of sound. Whether behind the drum set, in the studio, or leading instruction, Larry Wims Jr.’s passion, precision, and dedication shine through every beat.

Kevin “FlyGuyByrd” Lloyd is a professional guitarist and musician. Byrd, as he is best known, is a Midwest-based guitarist whose musical journey spans decades, from his early days in Chicago to performing on stages across the country. Raised in a musical household, Byrd was introduced to the world of music through his father and mother (Kevin Lloyd Sr. and Trina Robinson), sparking a passion that would shape his life. Byrd’s musical foundation began at the age of 9, when he started playing guitar at his grandmother’s church. It was there that he developed his versatile talents, learning to play the keyboard and drums and honing his vocal skills. His musical style reflects a rich tapestry of gospel, quartet, R&B, and soul. Byrd credits his greatest influence to his faith in God and the divine gift given to him. That gift has opened doors to numerous collaborations with legendary artists such as Frankie Beverly and Maze, Ricky Dillard, Tank, Taylor Bennett, Ginuwine, KeKe Wyatt, Jonathan McReynolds, Tweet, John P. Kee, and many more. Through his craft, Byrd has become known for his distinctive guitar technique and soulful sound that blends genres seamlessly.

Cecil Green is a multi-platinum, Stellar Award-nominated, and now two-time Grammy-nominated producer hailing from Eunice, LA. He is the CEO of Green Sound Productions LLC. He gained his understanding of music at just 9 years old, when he started playing at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Ville Platte, Louisiana. He was 18 when he started touring.

Cecil attended Southern University and started producing Zydeco music in 2004–2005. Louisiana is the home of Zydeco, and he has put his touch on Zydeco artists such as multi-platinum artist Cupid, Tucka, Jeter Jones, and others. In 2024 Cecil was hand-selected to become a part of Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly. Cecil feels blessed to have shared the stage for the last time the legendary Frankie Beverly would perform.

Cecil is a multi-instrumentalist who creates beats and plays keyboards and drums. His desire is to make music that describes the themes, stories, and emotions of ordinary people. Although his expertise is Zydeco, he is a versatile producer who can adapt to any genre. He started Green Sound Productions with one goal in mind: to make timeless, classic music that will be remembered for generations to come. Nominated for a Grammy in 2022 and again in 2024, he is well on his way.

Marlon B. “Wild Bill” Curry is a native of Detroit, MI, where he started playing for local bands at an early age. A sought-after percussionist, Wild Bill performed with the well-known R&B artist Kem for 20 years, receiving three Gold Records and one Platinum Record during that time.

Being a bit shy, one would wonder where the name Wild Bill Curry originated. It’s still a mystery! Wild Bill’s love of music and excellence landed him a place in Frankie Beverly and Maze. He was also a part of Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly and is now thankful to be playing congas for The Beverly Xperience.