Gerald Levert
(July 13 1966 - November 10 2006) was an American R&B singer. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert. His father, Eddie Levert, is the lead singer of the 1970s soul group The O'Jays.
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GERALD LEVERT TICKETS
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Biography
Early life & career
Gerald Levert was born to
The O'Jays frontman
Eddie Levert and his wife Martha in
Philadelphia on July 13, 1966. Levert grew up in
Shaker Heights,
Ohio, and due to his father's career, Levert would travel with the band regularly. While in high school, Levert's inclination towards music became apparent when he formed the
R&B trio
LeVert, with his younger brother
Sean Levert (deceased, March 30, 2008) and friend
Marc Gordon in 1984. The group proved to be very successful with four of its seven albums going platinum. These include,
I Get Hot
in 1985,
Bloodline
in 1986,
The Big Throwdown
in 1987, and
Just Coolin
in 1988. Among the group's memorable hits were, "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind", "Casanova", and "ABC-123" (not to be confused with the
Jackson 5 hit of the same name).
GERALD LEVERT
Second generation R&B star Gerald Levert took the lessons of his father, Eddie Levert of the O'Jays, seriously. When the Shaker Heights High teenager seemed determined to follow in his father's steps, his dad warned him that performers often get cast aside and he should secure his legacy by being a producer and songwriter as well. So Levert was a triple threat, both with the trio he formed with his brother Sean and friend Marc Gordon in the mid-'80s and in his own solo career launched in 1991. He was also a mentor to other artists such as the Rude Boyz and Men at Large and the hub of a local recording scene. His resume included production, songwriting and duets with top R&B stars such as the O'Jays, Patti LaBelle, Yolanda Adams, Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, Barry White, Teddy Pendergrass and Stephanie Mills.
Solo career & collaborations
In 1991, Levert went solo with the album,
Private Line
, which went to number one on the R&B charts. The following year, Gerald and his father, Eddie Levert, hit number one on the R&B charts with the single,
Baby Hold On to Me
. Levert recorded a string of albums throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, that spawned the hit singles, "Thinkin' About It" (Pop #12), "Taking Everything" (Pop #11), "Funny", "Mr. Too Damn Good to You", "U Got That Love", and a remake of
R. Kelly's "
I Believe I Can Fly", along with gospel singer
Yolanda Adams.
Gerald wrote and produced songs for other artists such as,
Barry White,
Stephanie Mills,
Teddy Pendergrass,
James Ingram,
The Winans and
The O'Jays. In the mid 1990s, he also helped launch the careers of three Cleveland-area R&B ensembles:
The Rude Boys,
Men at Large and
1 of the Girls. In 1997, Levert teamed up with fellow R&B singers
Keith Sweat and
Johnny Gill, to form the
supergroup,
LSG. The trio released the album
Levert-Sweat-Gill
, the same year, followed by
LSG2
in 2003. In 1999, Levert sang the chorus on the
Chris Rock spoken-word comedy piece, "
No Sex (In the Champagne Room)". Levert performed a duet with
Teena Marie on the latter's 2004 album
La Doña
. One of Levert's last collaborations was with pianist
Jim Brickman on the song "My Angel", for Brickman's 2006 album entitled
Escape
.
Levert released his tenth album,
Voices
, in 2005.
Death
On November 10, 2006, Gerald Levert was found dead in his bed at his
Newbury home when a cousin tried to wake him.
[1] Initial reports stated that Levert had died of an apparent
heart attack.
[2] In February 2007, an
autopsy report conducted by the
Cuyahoga County coroner's office concluded that Levert's death was caused by a fatal combination of prescription
narcotics and
over-the-counter drugs. The drugs in his bloodstream included the narcotic pain relievers
Vicodin,
Percocet, and
Darvocet, along with anxiety medication
Xanax and two over-the-counter
antihistamines. The autopsy also revealed that Levert had
pneumonia. The official cause of death was acute intoxication, and the death was ruled accidental. Gerald Levert was only 40 years old.
[3]
Following the disclosure of Gerald Levert's cause of death, a family spokesman stated that all the drugs found in Levert's bloodstream were prescribed to the singer. Levert was taking the pain medication because of chronic pain from a lingering shoulder problem and surgery in 2005 to repair a severed
Achilles tendon.
Shortly before his death, Levert completed work on what would be his final album,
In My Songs
. The album was released on February 13, 2007.
[4]In June 2007, a book Gerald was working to complete entitled,
I Got Your Back: A Father and Son Keep it Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family, and Friendship
, was released. The book was initially planned as a tie-in for a Levert album of the same name.
I Got Your Back
explores Gerald and Eddie’s father/son relationship, the necessity of male bonding, and importance of repairing fractured families.
[5]Levert was also working on a
reality show in which he was losing weight along with 12 of his female fans, who were training with him at his palatial home.
[6]
Personal life
Although never married, Levert had three children: LeMicah, Camryn, and Carlysia.
[7]
Carlysia, an aspiring singer, appeared on the
MTV series
My Super Sweet 16
, with her father in 2005.
Awards and nominations
On December 7, 2006, it was announced that Levert, along with soul legend
Chaka Khan, gospel singer
Yolanda Adams, and
R&B crooner
Carl Thomas were nominated for a
Grammy in the category of Best
R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocals for their collaboration on "Everyday (Family Reunion)", a song from the soundtrack of
Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion
.
[8] He was nominated again for the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for his single, "In My Songs". At the 50th annual
Grammy Awards, it was announced that Levert had won the award for "In My Songs". Levert's brother and former founding
Levert member
Sean Levert (deceased) accepted in his late brother's behalf.
- American Music Award
- *1999, Favorite R&B/Soul Band, Duo or Group (Nominated) w/ LSG
- *1993, Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist (Nominated)
- *1988, Favorite R&B/Soul Single: "Cassanova" (Nominated) w/ Levert
- BET Awards
- *2007, Favorite Male R&B Artist: (Nominated)
- *2007, BET J Cool Like Dat: (Winner)
- Grammy Awards
- *2008, Best Traditional R&B Performance: "In My Songs" (winner)
- *2007, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "Everyday (Family Reunion)" (Nominated) w/ Chaka Khan, Carl Thomas & Yolanda Adams
- *1998, Best R&B Album By A Duo or Group: "Levert Sweat Gill" (Nominated) w/ w/ LSG
- *1988, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "Cassnova" (Nominated) w/ Levert
- Image Awards
- *2004, Outstanding Male Artist (Nominated)
- *2008, Best Duo or Group (Winner) as Gerald Levert & Eddie Levert
- Soul Train Awards
- *2003, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Album: The G Spot
(Nominated)
- *1999, Favorite Band, Duo or Group Album: Levert.Sweat.Gill
(Nominated)
- *1995, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Album: Groove On
(Nominated)
- *1988, Favorite Band, Duo or Group Single: "Cassanova" (Winner) w/ Levert
- *1988, Favorite Band, Duo or Group Album: The Big Throwdown (Winner) w/ Levert
Discography
Albums (Levert)
- 1985: I Get Hot
- 1986: Bloodline
(#8 R&B, #192 Pop)
- 1987: The Big Throwdown
(#3 R&B, #32 Pop)
- 1988: Just Coolin
(#6 R&B, #79 Pop)
- 1990: Rope A Dope Style
(#9 R&B, #122 Pop)
- 1993: For Real Tho
(#5 R&B, #35 Pop)
- 1997: The Whole Scenario
(#10 R&B, #49 Pop)
- 2007: In My Songs
Albums (LSG)
- 1997: Levert-Sweat-Gill
(#2 R&B, #4 Pop)
- 2003: LSG2
(#3 R&B, #6 Pop)
Albums (Gerald & Eddie Levert)
- 1995: Father & Son
- 2007: Something To Talk About
(U.S. Sales as of July 12, 2007: 69,656 copies)
Singles With LeVert
- 1985: "I'm Still" (#70 R&B)
- 1986: "(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind" (#1 R&B)
- 1987: "Casanova" (#1 R&B, #5 Pop)
- 1987: "My Forever Love" (#2 R&B)
- 1988: "Sweet Sensation" (#4 R&B)
- 1988: "Addicted to You" (#1 R&B)
- 1988: "Pull Over" (#2 R&B)
- 1989: "Just Coolin" (#1 R&B, with Heavy D)
- 1989: "Gotta Get the Money" (#4 R&B)
- 1990: "Rope A Dope Style" (#7 R&B)
- 1990: "All Season" (#4 R&B)
- 1991: "Baby I'm Ready" (#1 R&B)
- 1993: "ABC-123" (#5 R&B)
Singles With LSG
- 1997: "My Body" (#1 R&B, #4 Pop)
Solo Singles
- 1988: "That's What Love Is" (#4 R&B, duet with Miki Howard)
- 1991: "Private Line" (#1 R&B)
- 1992: "Baby Hold On to Me" (#1 R&B, #37 Pop, duet with Eddie Levert)
- 1992: "School Me" (#3 R&B)
- 1992: "Can You Handle It" (#9 R&B)
- 1994: "I'd Give Anything" (#4 R&B, #28 Pop)
- 1995: "Answering Service" (#12 R&B)
- 1995: "Can't Help Myself" (#17 R&B)
- 1995: "How Many Times" (#55 R&B)
- 1995: "Already Missing You" (#7 R&B, #75 Pop, duet with Eddie Levert)
- 1996: "Wind Beneath My Wings" (#30 R&B, duet with Eddie Levert)
- 1998: "Thinkin' Bout It" (#2 R&B, #12 Pop)
- 1999: "Taking Everything" (#3 R&B, #11 Pop)
- 1999: "Nothin' to Somethin" (#55 R&B)
- 2000: "Baby U Are" (#31 R&B, #89 Pop)
- 2000: "Mr. Too Damn Good" (#20 R&B, #76 Pop)
- 2000: "Dream With No Love" (#84 R&B)
- 2001: "Made To Love Ya" (#37 R&B)
- 2002: "Funny" (#37 R&B)
- 2002: "What Makes It Good To You (No Premature Lovin')" (#66 R&B)
- 2003: "Closure" (#57 R&B)
- 2004: "One Million Times" (#56 R&B)
- 2004: "U Got That Love (Call It a Night)" (#30 R&B)
- 2004: "Wear It Out" (#58 R&B)
- 2005: "So What (If You Got a Baby)" (#49 R&B)
- 2007: "In My Songs" (#21 R&B)
- 2007: "DJ Don't" (#31 R&B)
References
- Gerald Levert Was Working On Book At Time Of Death - News Story - WEWS Cleveland
- R&B Singer Gerald Levert Dies of Heart Attack - Gerald Levert : People.com
- Accidental Drug Mix Said to Kill Levert - washingtonpost.com
- Gerald Levert "In My Songs"
- Remembering Gerald Levert : VIBE.com
- Sultry-Voiced R& B Balladeer, Songwriter Gerald Levert, 40 - washingtonpost.com
- Legal tug-of-war erupts over Gerald Levert's will - Cleveland Metro News – The Latest Breaking News, Photos and Stories from The Plain Dealer
- LA Daily News - Full list of Grammy nominees