Gerald Levert

Gerald Levert
Born	(1966-07-13)July 13, 1966
Origin	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	November 10, 2006(2006-11-10) (aged 40)
Genres	R&B, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, producer, actor
Instrument	Voice
Years active	1984–2006
Labels	Atlantic, EastWest, Elektra

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.

Biography

Early life & career

Gerald Levert was born to The O'Jays frontman Eddie Levert and his wife Martha in Canton, Ohio 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. Four of the group's seven albums went 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 with a similar title).

Solo career & collaborations

In 1991, Levert went solo with the albums, 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 contained the hit singles, "Thinkin' About It" (Pop #12) which was releases September 1 1998, "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.

Levert also sung lead vocals in two songs on the 2002 film documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" - the story of The Funk Brothers. Levert performed "Shotgun" and "Reach Out I'll Be There".

Levert released his tenth album,Voices, in 2005.

Levert wrote and produced songs for other artists such as Barry White, Stephanie Mills, Anita Baker, Eugene Wilde, Teddy Pendergrass, James Ingram, Freddie Jackson, Chuckii Booker, The Winans, Troop and The O'Jays. In the early 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. During the release of Groove On, Levert appeared in the group Black Men United for the hit single "U Will Know" for the film Jason's Lyric, the movie's soundtrack. who was participated in the group and joining with Keith Sweat as well. 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, selling over two million copies; it was 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. Levert's last collaborations included Jim Brickman on the song "My Angel", for Brickman's 2006 album entitled Escape and on the song "Real S***" from rapper Styles P's album, Time Is Money. Levert was posthumously featured on former groupmates Keith Sweat's "Knew It All Along" and Johnny Gill from the singer's Til the Morning album, which was released two days later of Levert's fifth anniversary of his death.

Acting

Levert branched out into his acting career as Charles Young, his first appearance on The Jamie Foxx Show for 2 episodes with "Just Don't Do It" where Jamie and his mother (Jo Marie Payton) decided to marry him. In January 2001, Gerald appears again in the series finale "Always and Forever" where Jamie (Jamie Foxx) and Fancy (Garcelle Beauvais) got married and sang the opening ceremony at the wedding and joined by fellow singers Gladys Knight and Marilyn McCoo (without her husband Billy Davis, Jr.). On November 10, 2003, exactly 3 years prior to his death, LeVert's final acting role that aired during his lifetime he also appeared on the episode of The Parkers, who plays T's father (Ken Lawson) where he and his son comes to visit to start a new band.

Death

On November 10, 2006, Gerald Levert was found dead in his bed at his Newbury home when a cousin tried to wake him. Initial reports stated that Levert had died of an apparent heart attack. 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.

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.

Cover for Levert's final album, In My Songs, released after his death

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. 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. 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.

Personal life

Levert had three children: LeMicah, Camryn, and Carlysia. 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. 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 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: "Casanova" (Nominated) w/ Levert

• BET Awards
  • 2007, Favorite Male R&B Artist: (Nominated)
  • 2007, BET Just 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)
• 1987: The Big Throwdown (#3 R&B, #32 Pop)
• 1988: Just Coolin (#6 R&B)
• 1990: Rope A Dope Style (#9 R&B)
• 1993: For Real Tho (#5 R&B, #35 Pop)
• 1997: The Whole Scenario (#10 R&B)

Albums (Solo)

• 1991: Private Line
• 1994: Groove On
• 1998: Love & Consequences
• 1999: G
• 2001: Geralds World
• 2002: The G Spot
• 2003: Stroke Of Genius
• 2004: Do I Speak For The World
• 2005: Voices
• 2007: In My Songs
• 2010: The Best of Gerald Levert

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

Singles (Levert)

• 1985: "I'm Still" (#70 R&B)
• 1986: "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)
• 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 (LSG)

• 1997: "My Body" (#1 R&B, #4 Pop)

Singles (Solo)

• 1991: "Private Line" (#1 R&B)
• 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)
• 1998: "Thinkin' Bout It" (#2 R&B, #12 Pop)
• 1998: "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)
• 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)
• 2010: Can It Stay

Duets

• 1988: That's What Love Is (#4 R&B with Miki Howard)
• 1990: Just One Of Them Things (with Keith Sweat)
• 1992: Baby Hold On To Me (#1 R&B with Eddie Levert)
• 1995: Already Missing You (#7 R&B with Eddie Levert)
• 1996: Wind Beneath My Wings" (#30 R&B with Eddie Levert)

External links

• Atlantic Records site for Gerald Levert
• Gerald Levert at AllMusic
• Gerald Levert - Cleveland Plain Dealer special section
• Gerald Levert's Last Interview
• Gerald Levert at Find A Grave