Happy 50th Birthday To Gerald Levert!

Early life & Career[edit]

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, a suburb of Cleveland. 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 trio LeVert, with his younger brother Sean Levert (b. 1968–March 30, 2008) and friend Marc Gordon in 1983. Four of the group’s seven albums went gold.

Solo career & Collaborations[edit]

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 released on 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 sang 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 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 and Johnny Gill as well. In 1997, Levert teamed up again with fellow singers Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill, to form the supergroup, LSG.^[3] The trio released the album Levert-Sweat-Gill the same year, selling over two million copies;^[3] 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 again 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 after the fifth anniversary of Levert’s death.

Acting[edit]

Levert began his acting career as Charles Young, his first appearance on The Jamie Foxx Show for 2 episodes with “Just Don’t Do It”, that aired on November 5, 1998 and Jamie disapproves of his mother (Jo Marie Payton) because she decided to marry him in the episode. In January 2001, Gerald appears again in the series finale “Always and Forever” when 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, three years prior to his death, Levert’s final acting role that aired during his life was when he appeared in an episode of The Parkers, He played T’s father in the episode and comes for a visit to start a new band with T.

Death[edit]

On November 10, 2006, Gerald Levert was found dead in his bed at his Cleveland, Ohio home when his cousin tried to wake him.^[4] Initial reports stated that Levert had died of an apparent heart attack.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Personal life[edit]

Levert had three children: LeMicah, Camryn, and Carlysia.^[10] Carlysia, an aspiring singer, appeared on the MTV series My Super Sweet 16, with her father in 2005. His father is the third cousin of Michigan basketball star, Caris LeVert.^[11]

Awards and Nominations[edit]

On December 7, 2006, it was announced that Levert, along with Chaka Khan, Yolanda Adams and 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.^[12] 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. On August 17, 2013 in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio Gerald Levert was inducted into the 2013 inaugural class of The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame along with The O’Jays.

• 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: “Casanova” (Winner) w/ Levert
  • 1988, Favorite Band, Duo or Group Album: The Big Throwdown (Winner) w/ Levert

Discography[edit]

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Singles (LeVert)[edit]

• 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)
• 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)[edit]

• 1997: “My Body” (#1 R&B, #4 Pop)

Singles (Solo)[edit]

• 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: “Breakin’ My Heart” (featuring Sean Levert) (#5 R&B)
• 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: “DJ Played Our Song” (#76 R&B)
• 2001: “Made To Love Ya” (#37 R&B)
• 2001: “Make My Day” (featuring Joe Little III & Sean Levert) (#89 R&B)
• 2002: “What Makes It Good To You (No Premature Lovin’)” (66 R&B)
• 2002: “Too Much Room” (featuring Mystikal) (#67 R&B)
• 2002: “Funny” (#37 R&B)
• 2003: “Closure” (#57 R&B)
• 2003: “Wear It Out” (#58 R&B)
• 2004: “U Got That Love (Call It a Night)” (#30 R&B)
• 2004: “Stroke of Genius” (56 R&B)
• 2004: “One Million Times” (#56 R&B)
• 2005: “So What (If You Got a Baby)” (#49 R&B)
• 2005: “Lay You Down” (#67 R&B)
• 2007: “In My Songs” (#21 R&B)
• 2007: “DJ Don’t” (#31 R&B)
• 2010: “Only Hugs”

Duets[edit]

• 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)
• 2004: “A Rose By Any Other Name” (R&B with Teena Marie)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Levert